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The CMS requirements of participation for emergency preparedness programs have 27 E-tags that facilities can be cited under. There are five categories the E-tags are placed, and they are as follows:
- Establishing a comprehensive emergency preparedness Program
- Emergency Preparedness Policy and Procedures
- Emergency Preparedness Communication plan
- Emergency Preparedness Training and Testing
- Emergency and Standby Power Systems Requirements
The most frequently cited E-tags are in the category of Emergency Preparedness Policy and Procedures under the following tags:
E0015 – Subsistence Needs for Staff and Patients
E0026 – Roles Under a Waiver Declared by Secretary
E0024 – Policies and Procedures – Volunteers and Staffing
E0018 – Procedures for Tracking of Staff and Patients
Recommended Action:
- Ensure the annual review of the policy and procedures for emergency preparedness are scheduled to be reviewed annually. The annual review must be documented.
- Modify your policy and procedures with lessons learned from the training/drills that have occurred throughout the year. Include changes for improvements that enhance response in disaster and emergency situations.
- Evaluate and recap each drill or emergency in an after-action report. (sample
- Review the CMS Emergency Preparedness guidance for the above listed tags related to required policy and procedures by following this link.
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-17-29.pdf