March 2009
Information Bulletin 09-06
All Providers
Information and Guidelines for Facilities Impacted by Spring Floods
Note: The contact information in this Bulletin is directed primarily to providers in NorthWest and West Central Minnesota.
The following guidelines may be used by facilities to answer questions regarding expectations of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) during the Spring Flooding.
Facilities impacted by a disaster should contact as soon as possible their local Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MAC) or the Regional Public Health or Healthcare Preparedness Consultants (see specific contact information below). If unable to contact them, you may contact the MDH Compliance Monitoring Division in St. Paul at 651-201-4101, or a supervisor in a health department district office.
| West Central | North West |
| Fergus: 218-332-5193 or 218-332-5149 | Bemidji: 218-308-2119 |
| Regional Response Teams | |
| West Central | North West |
| Cindy Borgen, PHPC Fergus Falls MDH District Office 218-332-5168 cindy.borgen@state.mn.us |
Steven Dwine, PHPC Bemidji MDH District Office 218-308-2149 steven.dwine@state.mn.us |
| Justin Taves, RHPC Alexandra Clinic 320-759-4024 jtaves@dchospital.com |
Carol Sele, RHPC North Country Health Service 218-333-5918 scele@nchs.com |
| Michele Muckala, RHPC Kittson memorial Healthcare Center 218-843-3612 x207 michelemuckala@wiktel.com |
|
- The first priority is to serve facility residents/patients. Use common sense first, worry about regulations second.
- Health care facilities may be called upon by the community to provide support. This might include meals, water, shelter, etc. Do whatever you can to help, remembering that your primary responsibility is first to your residents, and then to others as staff and resources permit.
- Flooding may affect water supplies, facilities may need to reduce bedside water, and regular bathing. Hydration and hygiene needs must be met, but usual procedures can be modified.
- Staffing resources may also be constrained if there is flooding in your community. Please do your best to keep staffing at appropriate levels. If staffing cannot be maintained, strong consideration must be made to transferring the residents to other facilities.
Evacuating Facility:
- If residents need to be relocated, it is the responsibility of the evacuating facility to secure appropriate placements. If you need assistance in locating vacant beds work with the local MAC or contact Compliance Monitoring Division of MDH.
- The evacuating facility does not need to write a discharge summary of the resident.
- The evacuating facility should create a log of residents who are being evacuated and where they are being relocated.
- The evacuating facility should send the medical record, care plan, medicine and supplies along with the resident to the Receiving Facility. If the records and supplies are not available, due to the nature of the disaster, the evacuating facility must write a short profile of the resident and their needs as well as a list and dosage of medications.
- The evacuating facility will continue to bill for the services and will reimburse the receiving facility.
Receiving Facility:
- If a facility will be accepting relocated residents and will exceed licensed capacity they should contact the MDH Compliance Monitoring Division. Temporary waivers may be granted in an emergency.
- The receiving facility should maintain a log of residents relocated to their facility.
- For payment and MDS purposes the receiving facility is accepting the resident temporarily. The receiving facility is not required to perform the usual admission procedures nor do they need to prepare the MDS assessment, case mix assessment and care plan. This applies for the first 30 days of the disaster. During this period, an assessment should be made as to the future viability of the evacuating facility. If it is determined that the evacuating facility will NOT be able to resume services, further instructions will be provided.
Additional Resources:
Office of Emergency Preparedness, Minnesota Department of Health
Phone: 651-201-5700
http://www.health.state.mn.us/oep
http://www.health.state.mn.us/oep/contact/teamsregions.html
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SurveyCertEmergPrep/
Compliance Monitoring Division Minnesota Department of Health
Phone: 651-201-4101
http://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities.html
Minnesota Ombudsmen for Long Term Care
Phone: 651-431-2555
Toll Free: 1-800-369-7994
If you have any questions related to this Information Bulletin, please contact:
Minnesota Department of Health
Compliance Monitoring Division
Licensing and Certification Program
P.O. Box 64900
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0900
Telephone: (651) 201-4101
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