The Joint Commission Issues Sentinel Event Alert to Help Prepare Healthcare Organizations for Environmental Disasters

To support healthcare organizations in implementing proactive risk management strategies, The Joint Commission has issued Sentinel Event Alert, “Environmental disasters: Preparing to safely evacuate or shelter in place.” This alert outlines steps for healthcare organizations to consider as they prepare for weather and climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods and extreme heat.

Joint Commission Emergency Management standards require healthcare organizations to have a comprehensive EM program that provides a systematic analysis for planning and decision-making. The EM program structure can respond to any type of emergency through an all-hazards approach.

To assist in safe evacuation or sheltering in place during an environmental disaster, the Sentinel Event Alert suggests healthcare organizations consider taking the following actions:

1. Revisit and update emergency plans
2. Establish and build collaborative relationships
3. Develop a resilient communications infrastructure
4. Plan how to meet essential needs and provide care to staff and patients
5. Plan and practice how to evacuate and shelter in place

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