2023 Emergency Preparedness Conference for Home Care and Hospice


2023 Emergency Preparedness Conference for Home Care and Hospice
Virtual Event
November 1, 2023 

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT

While agencies have all been in non-stop emergency mode for the past several years, it is time to go back to the basics and look at all you have accomplished during the public health emergency, what lessons you have learned and what actions you have taken, and can still take, to make your organization more resilient and prepared for the next emergency.  

The annual Emergency Preparedness (EP) conference will be held virtually on November 1, 2023. This full-day conference will highlight your EP requirements, solidify your actions, and offer helpful tools on the following topics:   

  • strengthening your EP plan;    
  • utilizing waiver requests on policies, procedures and regulations;    
  • how OSHA affects home care and hospice agencies’ EP actions;    
  • maximizing the safety of home care workers; and   
  • getting to know your HEPC and other community preparedness partners.  

The conference will conclude with a tabletop exercise which agencies can use to meet their state and/or federal exercise requirements. 

Registration Rates

HCA, HPCANYS, and/or HCP Member
Single Registrant – $179
Full Agency (2 or more) – $299

Non-Members
Single Registrant – $229
Full Agency (2 or more) – $399

Cancellation Policy
CANCELLATIONS received one week prior to the scheduled Emergency Preparedness virtual event are refundable less a 25% administrative fee. Cancellations must be received in writing via email to info@hcanys.org. No Refunds will be given once course materials and log-in information has been provided. No refunds for no shows. Substitutions are permitted.

9:00AM – 9:15AM
Opening Remarks and Regulatory Update
Andrew Koski, Vice President for Program Policy and Services, Home Care Association of New York State
Arianna Stone, Director of Research and Development, Home Care Association of New York State

Learn the latest updates on the status of federal and state regulatory waivers and flexibilities for CHHAs, LHCSAs and hospices as the end of the public health emergency continues to impact home health and hospice providers.

9:15AM – 10:15AM
Strengthening Your Emergency Preparedness Plan

Session sponsored by: RBC Limited Healthcare & Management Consultants

Barbara Citarella, RN, BSN, MS, CHCE, NHDP-BC, Subject Matter Expert to U.S. Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response ASPR TRACIE, National Healthcare Disaster Professional, President RBC Limited Healthcare & Management Consultants
Both the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and state Department of Health (DOH) require that home care and hospice providers develop a written emergency preparedness plan which is current and includes procedures to follow to meet the health and safety needs of their patients and staff prior to, during and after emergencies or disasters. This session led by Barbara Citarella will provide key insights in improving your EP plan to meet state and federal requirements and how to pass your next state Department of Health survey. Ms. Citarella will provide an overview on risk assessment/hazard vulnerability analysis; communication systems with staff and patients; education and training; drills and exercises; collaboration with local, state and federal emergency partners; continuity of operations; policies and procedures; and more.

10:15AM – 10:30 AM
Break

10:30AM – 11:15 AM

Utilizing CEMP to Strengthen Your Emergency Preparedness Plan

Kate Butler-Azzopardi, Healthcare Facility Preparedness Manager
New York State Department of Health Office of Health Emergency Preparedness

Deanna Ratigan, Healthcare Preparedness Coordinator
New York State Department of Health Office of Health Emergency Preparedness

Learn about a new tool, the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) for home care and hospice providers, that will supplement your efforts to develop a robust Emergency Plan.

The purpose of the CEMP is to describe the organization’s approach to mitigating the effects of, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters, man-made incidents, and/or organization emergencies.

The CEMP is an optional tool, not a requirement of DOH, but is being offered to help agencies enhance their existing Emergency Preparedness/Management plan. Agencies may also opt to use the CEMP document and tools as their main planning document.

This program will provide information on the CEMP tool, template and additional resources.

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
How OSHA Affects Home Care and Hospice Agencies’ Emergency Preparedness Actions
Robert Colman, Compliance Assistance Specialist, U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA

Home care workers may be employed by an agency or work for an agency that subcontracts with other agencies. Often times, home care workers have little control over their work environment which may contain several safety and health hazards. These hazards may include: bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards, latex sensitivity, ergonomic hazards from patient lifting, violence, hostile animals and unhygienic and dangerous conditions. In this session, Robert Colman will offer his insights and guidance on how OSHA rules apply to these hazards at home and your agency’s EP activities, including safety on the job; reporting forms for injuries and illnesses; respiratory protection program requirements; subcontractor requirements; frequently cited violations; and more.

12:00PM – 1:00PM – Lunch Break
Sponsored by: HHA Exchange


Attendees (limit 5 per agency) will receive a $15 Panera gift card, compliments of HHAeXchange, prior to the event.

1:00PM – 1:45PM
Maximizing the Safety of Home Care Workers

Session sponsored by: RBC Limited Healthcare & Management Consultants
Barbara Citarella, RN, BSN, MS, CHCE, NHDP-BC, Subject Matter Expert to U.S. Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response ASPR TRACIE, National Healthcare Disaster Professional, President RBC Limited Healthcare & Management Consultants

Home care workers are often vulnerable as they face unpredictable environments each time they enter a patient’s home and community. Home care workers face a variety of safety challenges, including unsafe neighborhoods; use of mass transit; encountering other individuals, weapons and animals in the household; illicit drug use in the home and/or neighborhood; and more. This session will expand upon and highlight agencies’ responsibilities in workplace safety, including the development of a workplace violence prevention plan, as well as provide education for staff on safety tips, and measures; improved situational awareness; and ways to deal with patient and family aggression and pets and weapons in the home.

1:45PM – 2:30PM
CONCURRENT PANELS
Getting To Know Your HEPC and Other Community Partners

PANEL ONE – HEPCs
Health Emergency Preparedness Coalitions (HEPCs) are regional coalitions of health care providers, and local and state emergency management and local public health preparedness officials who work together to develop and coordinate emergency preparedness activities across the continuum.

Become familiar with an incredible resource for emergencies – HEPCs – and how providers can become involved with them prior, during and after emergencies. Any existing mutual aid agreements, transportation assistance, and evacuation and sheltering-in-place procedures will also be discussed.

Western New York
Albert P. Cheverie, Hospital Emergency Preparedness Representative, Finger Lakes Region, New York State Department of Health

Long Island and Lower Hudson Valley/MARO
Gyongyi McQueston, Health Emergency Preparedness Representative III, New York State Department of Health Office of Health Emergency Preparedness
Drew Fried, CHEP, CHSP, Public Health Emergency Representative, New York State Department of Health, Office of Health Emergency Preparedness

Capital District
Maureen Casale-Reidy, MPH, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Representative, New York State Department of Health Office of Health Emergency Preparedness
Brielle Phillips, Hospital Preparedness Program Representative, Capital District Region, New York State Department of Health, Office of Health Emergency Preparedness

Central New York
Ann Smith, Hospital Preparedness Representative, Central NY Region, New York State Department of Health, Office of Health Emergency Preparedness
Megan Kash, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Representative, New York State Department of Health Office of Health Emergency Preparedness, Central New York Regional Office

PANEL TWO – New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene  
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR), Bureau of Healthcare and Community Readiness (BHCR) has a specific mission of supporting the NYC healthcare system in responding safely and effectively in emergencies. To do this, they align much of their work with the Healthcare Preparedness Capabilities driven by ASPR to assist in determining the preparedness priorities of the sectors and how to plan and roll out activities. They ensure healthcare and community providers have the tools, resources, and capabilities to respond to emergencies while continuing to provide essential medical services. They develop and support healthcare emergency preparedness coalitions that connect facilities with one another and with public agencies to strengthen preparedness across the health and medical sector. OEPR believes in using a shared emergency planning framework where stakeholders collaboratively prioritize and address preparedness and response gaps. This session will provide participants with programmatic resources and opportunities for collaboration.

Danielle M. Lucas Sollecito, LMSW, Senior Director of Healthcare Programs, Long Term Care Facility Preparedness and Response, Bureau of Healthcare System Readiness, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Fidelle Munroe, Long Term Care Support Coordinator, Bureau of Healthcare and Community Readiness, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

2:30PM – 2:45PM
Break

2:45PM – 4:00PM
Table-Top Exercise: Black Out
Pat Anders, former state Department of Health (DOH) Manager, Health Emergency Preparedness Exercises, Office of Health Emergency Preparedness, State Department of Health and Current Lead, NYSDOH Vaccine Confidence Workgroup

This segment of the conference will provide a unique and important opportunity for a hands-on EP tabletop exercise (TTX) facilitated by emergency preparedness exercise expert Pat Anders that will both tap your current expertise and build new and further insights into your emergency preparedness planning and execution.

4:00PM
Adjournment

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact HCA’s Manager of Meetings and Events, Billi Wilson.