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A well-equipped Urgent Care should be ready for all types of emergencies that may affect the ability to offer patient care, including environmental (current weather and risk for new climate changes), workplace violence, isolated fire and medical events (global and individual). Preparedness requires all staff to be responsible for the knowledge to protect themselves and patients during events that may last only a few seconds but can be life altering. This page should help to organize resources available for both training and response. Creating a robust emergency program and familiarizing staff now can help prevent tragedy in the future.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends a five prong approach to providing a safe workplace:
To properly address the situation and best prepare, it is essential to combat underreporting: Around 39% of healthcare workers each year experience some sort of violence event, but only 19% report it (American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2015). The University of Michigan survey shows estimates, current known rates of violence in healthcare may be as high three times as much.
Current weather: https://www.weather.gov/translate/hazards.html?
Road closures: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/
Optimal staffing and recognition for closure needs if not able to safely provide employee shelter:
See the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit’s Steps to Resilience framework for more information.
Monthly Checklist
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) provides timely, accurate, and credible information to clinicians related to emergency preparedness and response and emerging public health threats. COCA fosters partnerships with national clinician organizations to strengthen information-sharing networks before, during, and after a public health emergency.
COCA invites all clinicians to Sign-Up for COCA Email Updates and Reminders.
STROKE
Adult Stroke: 2010 AHA Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
ANAPHYLAXIS
Coming soon: Links to State Agencies