Community Nonparticipation

• 9/10/2009
• Author: Kristine Miller
• Category: EC News Blog
• 22989 Views
• 0 Comments
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We all know how essential it is that the community participates with you in emergency planning and in developing your emergency operations plan (EOP). Getting the local health department, law enforcement, fire department, city officials, and others in synch with your organization can make things run more smoothly if and when a disaster hits you all. That’s why The Joint Commission requires community involvement as part of its emergency management standards.
 
But what if these folks drag their feet about working with you? Or just plain can’t? Or won’t? Then what?
 
Well, save all the communication you’ve had with them, whether it’s e-mails, letters, or meeting minutes. That way, you’ll be able to show the Joint Commission surveyor that you’ve tried.
 
But it’s still so important to actually get these folks on board. Maybe you could consider having an administrator talk with the mayor or other official to explain how critical it is that you each support each other for the good of all. And, if you’re an allied program (like ambulatory or home care), you may have better luck if you team up with the local hospital.
 
To see a detailed explanation of how the Joint Commission suggests you handle a situation of nonparticipation, go to this FAQ page on the Joint Commission Web site.
 
What are you doing to work with your community in emergency planning? Send us your ideas and experiences!