Emergency Preparedness

Kern Medical Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

information fit into this category For disaster relief purposes, to notify, or assist in the notification of (including identifying or locating), a family member, a personal representative of the patient, or another person responsible for the care of the patient, of the patient’s location, general condition or death. The law does not define the term “disaster.” A declaration of disaster by the Governor or the President is not required. Unless the following steps interfere with the ability to respond to the emergency, the hospital must follow the steps below before disclosing information if the patient is present (or otherwise available prior to the disclosure) and has the capacity to make health care decisions: 1. Obtain the patient’s agreement to the disclosure. 2. Provide the patient with the opportunity to object to the disclosure (if the patient objects, no disclosure may be made). 3. The hospital may reasonably infer from the circumstances based on the exercise of professional judgment that the patient does not object to the disclosure. (Psychotherapists may not disclose information pursuant to this provision). If the patient is not present or the opportunity to agree or object to the disclosure cannot practicably be provided due to incapacity or an emergency circumstance, then the hospital may determine whether the disclosure is in the best interest of the patient and, if so, disclose only the information that is needed for notification purposes. Hospitals may disclose only the minimum information necessary to identify the individual or inform family or other persons responsible for the patient of the patient’s location, general condition or death. [Civil Code Section 56.10(c) (14) and (15); 45 C.F.R. Section 164.510(b)(4)]

• Kern Medical when requested plans to communicate with other healthcare organizations regarding names of patients and deceased individuals brought to their hospitals in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. • When requested in an emergency, all patients brought to Kern Medical are entered into a master patient triage roster that will be located in the triage area and will be continually submitted to the HCC for updates to other health care organizations in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The roster will include patient’s names and deceased individuals brought to Kern Medical. • The circumstances for communicating information about patients with community third parties will be any event (of an internal or external nature) that impacts the community health and safety within the hospital campus and as required by laws and regulations. • In the unlikely event the facility is deemed unsuitable for continued occupancy or cannot support adequate patient care, alternate care sites will be coordinated through a collaborative effort between the HCC, Operations, Planning, and Logistics sections. The management of necessary patient materials, the transfer of medications, medical records,

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