It is recommended that facilities identify multiple pre-determined locations for alternate care sites.
The alternate care sites may be a building that is already being used for medical purposes, such as a hospital, clinic or nursing home, or a structure with the capacity to shelter people and take care of their needs such as a hotel.
It is recommended to identify one geographically close alternate site and another being at least 50 miles away. Based on some lessons learned, disasters can affect a large geographical area so your closest site may not always be an acceptable option in an evacuation.
All planning should be based on the respectful care of those residing at the alternate care site. Planning considerations should include the identification of residents and communicating information to the resident and their families. Also consider supplies and staffing you will need during the transport and care of the resident. Other planning considerations should include transportation, communication and operational processes, such as environmental services, feeding and care, medical records, hazardous waste, security and staff training.
Conduct exercises designed to test your plan and alternate care sites to pre-identify any issues. Corrective actions should be taken with any identified gaps or needs.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers a useful tool to assist in emergency preparedness planning, https://www.cms.gov/SurveyCertEmergPrep/.
