Planning for disaster: Don’t leave it to chance
Where you can go for help in being prepared
Most people who create disaster plans for their practices go it alone. But there is help out there in developing plans. Roseann Gilchrist, practice administrator at Orthopedic Consultants Medical Group in Encino, CA, says she went to the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Sacramento with her draft plan.
Other places you can go for help include:
• Your local fire or police department.
Fire or police personnel can often provide vital information, says Sheila Campbell, financial counselor at Cardiology Consultants in Pensacola, FL. For instance, her safety officer told Campbell that she should provide fire and police departments with up-to-date architectural plans of the building. Those can be loaded into a computer at the fire and police departments and assist fire fighters, search and rescue efforts, or attempts to secure a building which is under threat from an armed person, she says.
• Local hospitals.
Campbell also used her local hospital emergency response committee in plan development. "They are almost always willing to share information with you."
• Specialty books, videos, and magazines.
Gilchrist says she made great use of Heaton Publications in Albertville, AL, which has a book titled Hazard Communication & Safety Program: Policy and Procedure Manual. It costs $92.65 plus $5 shipping and can be ordered by phone at (800) 221-2469. "[The manual] walks you through all emergency procedures step by step," says Gilchrist.
Campbell says the Weather Channel offers videos on disasters which she uses as part of employee orientation. A list of videos and the order form is available by calling (800) 250-5985, Ext. 20. She also subscribes to Disaster Recovery Journal, a publication which sponsors seminars twice a year on disaster preparedness. Further information is available by calling (314) 894-0276.
• Liability insurance carriers.
Your insurance company may also have resources you can use, or at the very least, be able to ascertain if your plan meets minimum requirements, Gilchrist says.
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