SOS Technologies supports the 2017 CMS final rule for Emergency communications & preparedness. U.S. health care system and aims to ensure that providers can plan for and respond to natural and man-made disasters in a timely and effective manner. The rule focuses on three key essentials: safeguarding human resources, maintaining business continuity, and protecting physical resources. The rule requires providers to develop and maintain a comprehensive emergency preparedness program that includes the following core elements: 1. Risk assessment and emergency planning This should include an "all-hazards" approach that focuses on capacities and capabilities, such as hazards likely in the geographic area and care-related emergencies. The emergency plan should be updated at least annually. 2. Communication plan This plan must comply with federal and state laws. 3. Policies and procedures These should be developed and implemented based on the emergency plan and risk assessment, and should address issues such as evacuation plans, sheltering in place, and tracking patients and staff. Policies and procedures should also be reviewed and updated at least annually. 4. Training and testing Providers should train and test their plans with the SOS Team.
In response to increasing workplace violence against nurses, physicians, and other providers, several states are implementing measures to address the issue. Recently, Texas passed Senate Bill 240 (SB 240), a legislative initiative aimed at curbing workplace violence in healthcare settings. The legislative push came after a tragic incident in 2022 where a nurse and a caseworker were fatally shot in a hospital's labor and delivery wing in Dallas. We explore the impact of SB 240, requirements for compliance, and unique risks within the healthcare industry in our latest blog: https://hubs.li/Q02HCPYr0