Case: Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response: Contingency Planning
Synopsis
The Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response was established by the Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) in 2002. The Center's mission is to develop and deliver services that improve healthcare planning, preparedness, and response for emergency events and disasters. It is responsible for identifying the status of emergency preparedness within the three YNHHS member hospitals (Yale-New Haven Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, and Greenwich Hospital); preparing YNHHS to respond effectively to emergency preparedness and disaster response issues; providing leadership to healthcare delivery organizations (e.g., acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, community health centers, home health agencies, urgent care centers, emergency medical service providers, and community medical practices) and their workforce regarding emergency preparedness and disaster response issues; serving as a model for emergency preparedness and disaster response initiatives at the national and international levels; and advising statewide and national legislative and nongovernmental organizations on the development of standards and policies for emergency preparedness and disaster response in healthcare delivery organizations. These objectives are achieved through a complex of web of partnerships with healthcare delivery organizations, professional health associations, and agencies on the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. This case study focuses on the intricacies of contingency planning and disaster recovery planning.
Questions
1a) Why is an integrated planning approach necessary for building healthcare capacity and providing a coordinated response to emergencies and disasters?
b) What is a needs assessment? What role did this play in the center's ability to provide disaster planning, education and training, clinical strategies, and logistical solutions to Connecticut's healthcare delivery infrastructure?