Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
it discussed and coordinated the facility's plans
with relevant agencies ahead of time?
when individuals leave (and new individuals
join) the organization, and are the assignments
updated as needed?
5. Under either an ICS or HEICS of system:
a. Does the relevant individual know the
location of the Command Center and the
potential resources in it;
b. Is that individual familiar with the institu-
tion's resources to enable her to gather and
assign resources as necessary; and
c. Does some kind of chart exist that may
be populated with names and contacts in
order to keep track of the people who are
filling the other roles within the command
structure?
E. Public Information Officer
The PIO serves as the contact for media inquiries,
and coordinates communication between the orga-
nization and the public.
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1. Does the organization have a designated PIO
or media-contact person on call at all times?
2. Does the organization have a policy that all
media inquiries must be directed to the PIO or
media person on-call?
3. Are the Incident Commander and PIO prepared
to make rapid decisions regarding (i) what
information to disclose about an organization's
particular situation and readiness; (ii) at what
times to make such announcements; and (iii)
to which media outlets?
4. Has the organization established patient-
and family-tracking procedures and mecha-
nisms that will enable the PIO to locate
and obtain information on patients that are
evaluated and treated during an emergency,
as well
D. Liaison Officer
The Liaison Officer communicates with external
agencies on behalf of the Incident Commander.
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1. Has the organization identified those external
agencies (e.g., fire, rescue, police, and public
health authorities) with which it will need to
interact in the event of an emergency?
2. Has the organization compiled contact infor-
mation for each external agency, and is that
contact information available in the Command
Center? Is it reviewed on a periodic basis
before an emergency occurs to ensure that it is
current?
3. Does the contact information include as
many different means of communication (e.g.,
cell telephone, fax, land-line telephone, radio
contact information) as possible?
as
to respond appropriately to
inquiries?
5. Is the organization equipped with suffi-
cient telephone lines, cell phones, and other
resources to communicate quickly and effec-
tively in an emergency situation?
6. Does the Command Center include telephone
numbers and other contacts to community
media personnel?
7. Has the organization developed HIPAA- and
JCAHO-compliant media-consent forms to
enable willing and available patients to speak
with the media about the facility's response
during an emergency? Do such consent forms
include an agreement with the media company
as required by JCAHO standards?
4.
Is the Command Center itself set up to be able
to use any and all available means of commu-
nication?
5.
In planning for an emergency, has the organi-
zation established appropriate lines of commu-
nication with local response agencies, and has
Glossary of Terms,
supra
note 11, at 12.
17
18
Field Operations Guide,
supra
note 13, at 5-3.
