Virginia Law

A. A written emergency preparedness plan shall be developed, reviewed, and implemented when needed. The plan shall address responses to natural disasters, as well as fire or other emergencies that disrupts the normal course of operations. The plan shall include, but not be limited to:

1. The continuation of essential patient support services in case of power outages, water shortages, or in the event of absences from work of any portion of the workforce resulting from inclement weather or other causes;

2. The preparation of patients for potential or imminent emergencies and disasters;

3. Alerting emergency personnel and sounding alarms;

4. Using, maintaining and operating emergency equipment;

5. Accessing patient emergency medical information;

6. Utilizing community support services;

7. A sheltering plan that addresses, but is not limited to:

a. Sheltering in place as well as off-site relocation arrangements;

b. Implementing evacuation procedures; and

c. A letter of agreement with off-site sheltering locations;

8. A transportation plan including:

a. Agreements with entities for relocating patients;

b. Number and type of vehicles required; and

c. Procedures for providing appropriate medical support and medications during relocation; and

9. A staffing plan for relocated patients, including:

a. The number and type of staff needed to provide appropriate care to relocated patients; and

b. Plans for relocating staff or assuring transportation to the sheltering facility.

B. All staff shall participate in periodic emergency preparedness training.

C. Staff shall have documented knowledge of, and be prepared to implement, the emergency preparedness plan in the event of an emergency.

D. At least one telephone shall be available in each area to which patients are admitted, in each patient room, with additional telephones or extensions as are necessary to ensure availability in case of need.

E. In the event of a disaster, fire, medication error, suspicious death, emergency or any other condition that may jeopardize the health, safety and well-being of patients, the facility shall notify the department of the conditions and status of the patients and the hospice facility as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the incident.

F. The hospice facility shall have a policy on smoking.