Emergency Preparedness

Kern Medical Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

1 MITIGATION 1.1 Introduction

Kern Medical undertakes risk assessment and hazard mitigation activities to lessen the severity and impact of a potential emergency. Mitigation begins by identifying potential emergencies (hazards) that may affect the organization's operations or the demand for its services. This is followed by development of a strategy to strengthen the perceived areas of vulnerability within the organization. During the mitigation phase, the Kern Medical Emergency Management Committee, leadership, Medical staff, and general staff identifies internal and external hazards and take steps to reduce the level of threat they pose by mitigating those hazards or reducing their potential impact on Kern Medical. The areas of vulnerability that cannot be strengthened sufficiently are addressed in emergency plan appendices. Mitigation activities occur both before and following an incident. 1.2 Hazard Vulnerability Analysis 1.2.1 Hazard and Vulnerability Analysis 1.2.1.1 Kern Medical conducts a hazard vulnerability analysis to

identify hazards and the direct and indirect effect these hazards may have on the healthcare system. This provides information needed by the hospital to minimize losses in an incident. Risks associated with large-scale emergency events are periodically reviewed and analyzed by the Safety Officer in concert with Executive Team and the local agencies (i.e. County of Kern Emergency Medical Services, City of Bakersfield, Disaster Medical Planning Group, etc). When conducting the risk assessment of the hospital the probability of the event happening, as well as the severity of the impact of a potential event was taken into consideration. Included in the probability is a rating from one (being low) to three (of being high) that the likelihood this event will occur. Issues considered were known risk, historical data as well as past statistics. Appendix D.1 –Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) is a tool for estimating and ranking the probability of occurrence and potential severity of various events. This assessment is performed annually and whenever its needs and vulnerabilities change , relative to its objectives, scope, performance, and effectiveness. This evaluation process is coordinated through the Safety Officer, in conjunction with the Emergency Management Committee, EOC/Safety Committees, and KCHCC as appropriate. Results of this evaluation process will form the basis for future performance improvement standards, strategic goal setting, planning, and verifying the continued applicability of program objectives and HVA elements.

1.2.1.2 Kern Medical’s Role in Emergency Management Program: Kern Medical participates in several

communitywide emergency management programs, such as

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