Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary: Monday - Friday, Day Shift - On-Site (Not Remote)

Joint Commission experience is helpful!

Responsible for the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of safety programs and emergency preparedness standards to facilitate a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors. Coordinate education and exercises within the organization to ensure overall safety and an organized response during a disaster. Responsibilities include the integration of safety and other relevant regulations, and 24/7 oversight of incident and event response.

Functions and Duties:

• Conduct an annual hazard vulnerability assessment (HVA)/ risk analysis to determine the facility’s risk for natural (e.g., tornados, floods, earthquakes), technological (e.g., power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills), human-caused (e.g., active shooter or hostage situations), and other disasters.
• Develop and maintain emergency plans and procedures for disasters identified in the HVA/ risk analysis.
• Collaborate with the management team in the creation, development, education, training, and implementation of disaster plans that are in alignment with state and other regulatory agencies.
• Know the organization’s alert and notification system and procedures, and ensure appropriate staff is educated on this as well.
• Manage disaster response/ crisis management activities for the facilities; know when to activate the facility’s emergency operations plan and command center; ensure availability of staff 24/7 to respond to disaster or potential disaster situations.
• Participate in the organization’s committee for general administration in planning, coordinating, maintaining, and updating disaster plans, including internal and external event response.
• Perform an education and training needs assessment and works collaboratively with staff development representatives to create, implement, and review safety/ regulatory education and training requirements/ programs to meet the needs of staff (e.g., Hospital Incident Command System).
• Coordinate the use and routine testing of all safety and disaster-related equipment.
• Develop policies and procedures that facilitate compliance and program implementation. Ensure the facilities meet all standards and compliance with federal regulations related to emergency management planning and safety, such as The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations and standards. Also ensure that the facilities meet the Emergency Management criteria required by the hospital accreditation body (e.g., TJC, DNV-GL).
• Establish mechanisms to collect, review, and track data required by local, state, and federal entities which are consistent with the facility’s policies and procedures, as well as develop and prepare reports that fulfill grant contract requirements as outlined by the specific funding stream.
• Coordinate the collection of organization-wide regulatory required information including, but not limited to, hazardous materials inventory, departmental hazard surveillance, and disaster supply inventories.
• Provide warnings and emergency data to the organization, and operations and technical support to leadership before, during, and after emergencies that affect it.
• Communicate plan and improve readiness by developing relationships and collaborate with partners/ stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization, and represent the organization on various preparedness committees such as: other local hospital disaster coordinators, the area healthcare coalition, and emergency medical services, public health, fire, and law enforcement agencies.
• Identify and maintain contact information for community response partners and identify how your facility will be notified of an emergency/crisis situation.
• Establish a schedule of training and exercises to practice/ test the emergency plans and participate with community partners in community or statewide exercises maintaining compliance with accrediting agencies. Document the results of these exercises in an after-action report to improve the facility’s emergency operations plan and response activities. Incorporate any lessons learned into future iterations of the plans.
• Perform assigned incident command role during drills, exercises, and real word emergencies.
• Coordinate and meet with department leaders from the organization to work on corrective action plans, and improvement initiatives related to safety and emergency management programs.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management or a related field is a preferred.

Experience

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in healthcare-related field including emergency preparedness, safety and/or regulatory compliance is preferred.
• Clinical experience as pre-hospital or hospital clinician is preferred.

Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations

• Emergency Management/ Preparedness.
• Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700, and 800 must be obtained within 1 year from date of hire.

Skills and Abilities

• Analytical skills necessary in order to evaluate and make recommendations regarding emergency management issues.
• Ability to design lesson plans, coordinate courses, and assist/ conduct realistic simulated training.
• Ability to articulate complex concepts both orally and in writing.
• Proficient with healthcare emergency preparedness, including security, safety, HAZMAT, OSHA, NIMS, HICS, HVA, CMS, and hospital accreditation body (e.g., TJC, DNV-GL) related criteria.
• Knowledgeable with Hospital Preparedness Program capabilities and understand healthcare coalition activities/ regional response activities.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Requires the ability to push, bend, stretch, walk, and stand at least one hour.
• Must be able to lift above the shoulder level or below knee level.
• Requires clarity of vision, ability to hear and speak.
• Requires use of hands to carry, type, etc.
• Understands that there may be some risk of exposure to air and blood borne pathogens, etc.
• Adhere to OSHA compliance measures to minimize or negate exposure risk.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to travel throughout facility as required conducting safety inspections.