DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT EVACUATION TRAINING

In the last several years, medical centers faced natural disasters that required the emergency evacuation of hospitalized patients, including premature and critically ill neonates. The emergent evacuation of this vulnerable population is reliant on staff and technology for all aspects of care and considered a high-risk activity. In response, The Joint Commission issued specific requirements for emergency management and disaster preparedness, known as Standards of Care for Disaster Preparedness and Response. Hospitals were mandated to have a disaster management program in place that addressed emergency preparedness and planning activities. A quality improvement project was created to improve the processes related to the safe and efficient emergent evacuation of neonates and ensure hospital alignment with The Joint Commission’s recommendations for a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan. Results of education and training of 33 neonatal nurses on a department-specific emergency response plan, roles and responsibilities during neonatal evacuation, and the use of evacuation equipment indicated increased knowledge (based upon responses to a 10-item knowledge questionnaire, d = 2.37) and self-efficacy (based upon responses to a 4-item questionnaire, d = 1.56). Also, the task force developed for this project has turned into an appointed, on-going interprofessional, multifacility committee, chaired by the author, whose purpose is to present findings and proposed solutions on NICU disaster iv preparedness and emergency management issues to hospital and regional disaster preparedness administration