Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness Educational Sessions

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Clinical & Disease Management, Management & Human Resources

Infection Control

One of the most basic but important issues related to good health care is use of proper infection control methods and equipment. As concerns about a potential pandemic in our future grow, this topic takes on new meaning and importance. This session will serve as a survey course of infection control precautions, including an update on the latest equipment available for protection of health care workers.

Objectives:

• Recount basic infection control practices.
• Identify appropriate equipment and precautions and the circumstances under which they should be used.
• Describe ways in which these precautions can be applied in the home setting.

Faculty: Cynthia J. Mueller, RN, BSN, CIC, VP of Operations, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Financial, Management & Human Resources, Hospice

Business Resiliency: The Key to Surviving a Disaster

This seminar will focus on effective business continuity and resiliency planning skills. Agencies need to be prepared for any and all types of disasters. This means having the ability to resume business as usual, as quickly as possible. Statistics show that 80 percent of businesses that are not up and running within one to two weeks after a disaster will most likely go out of business. Topics to be discussed in this session are communications, notification systems, financial reserves, insurance, and much more.

Objectives:

• Identify the key variables in business resiliency.
• Develop an agency specific recovery plan.
• Discuss management's role in business resiliency.

Faculty: Barbara Citarella, RN, BSN, MS, CHCE, CHS-III, President, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY; Patricia W. Tulloch, RN, MSN, Senior Consultant, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Clinical & Disease Management, Management & Human Resources, Hospice

Emergency Preparedness for Home Care and Hospice

This presentation will describe the critical elements of emergency preparedness for home care agencies as identified by New Jersey's Home Care Association through a state-funded Emergency Preparedness Grant Project. Particular attention to special needs population plans were addressed in year two of the grant project and will be shared in the presentation. Lessons learned will also be shared to understand the necessary role that home care must hold in every state to ensure the needs of the community's vulnerable patients are met.

Objectives:

• Identify home care and hospice's responsibilities in emergency preparedness planning, including special needs.
• Explain home care's role in planning for special needs populations.
• Illustrate appropriate documentation for emergency situations.

Faculty: Josephine Sienkiewicz, RN, MSN, Director of Education and Clinical Practice, Home Care Association of NJ, Princeton Junction, NJ; Carol Kientz, RN, MA, Executive Director, Home Care Association of NJ, Princeton Junction, NJ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Clinical & Disease Management

Federal Efforts to Assist in Provider Pandemic Preparation

The federal government has become increasingly concerned about the potential for an avian flu pandemic that would create limitless challenges for the entire health care provider network. The home care field, with its community base and its genesis in the public health model, is well-positioned to play an important role in helping to prevent, detect, and extinguish this serious threat to the nation's health and well-being. In this workshop, a representative from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide attendees with the latest guidance and government resources available to plan for and participate in pandemic relief efforts.

Objectives:

• Identify available government resources on pandemic preparedness for the public and home care providers.
• Outline steps the U.S. government is taking to prevent and minimize the spread of potentially deadly viruses.
• Define the role the home care community can play in addressing issues related to the threat of a pandemic.

Faculty: Representative , U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

Maintaining the Lifeline: An Employer's Legal Guide to Worker Protections and Exposure

Risks of exposure to biological agents and other harmful substances must be guarded against at all times; the threat could increase substantially when caregivers are part of disaster recovery or pandemic treatment efforts. This workshop will provide clear guidance on a home care and hospice organization's obligations and options for maintaining optimum health and safety for these important workers.

Objectives:

• Define an employer's obligations relative to worker protections in the home and other care settings.
• Outline potential employer educational efforts to limit harmful exposure of workers.
• Identify various items of equipment that must/should/could be made available to increase worker protections against harmful agents.

Faculty: William A. Dombi, Esq., Director, Center for Health Care Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Clinical & Disease Management

The Latest Intelligence on Progress of the Avian Flu Virus: A Primer

Home caregivers deal with issues related to influenza on a regular basis, but the threat posed by avian flu is in another league altogether. In order to effectively address the risks posed by a potential pandemic caused by the H5N1 avian flu virus, it is important to understand the process by which this deadly virus can mutate and spread, and the far-reaching impact it can have on all aspects of society. This workshop will provide a primer on the potential for the mutation and spread of the virus, the threats it poses, and the challenges it poses to the home care practitioner.

Objectives:

• Describe the process by which avian flu mutations spread could result in pandemic.
• Identify threats posed by the avian flu virus to the public health.
• Relate challenges facing the home care practitioner in dealing with a pandemic.

Faculty: Sharon D. Martin, MSN APRN BC, Associate Professor of Nursing, Saint Joseph's College, Standish, ME;

Course Level: Novice; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Financial, Hospice

How to Cope with a Disaster and Recovery - Learning From Experience

If you think a disaster will never happen to you or your organization, why do you buy insurance? Learn from the successes and mistakes of someone who has recently experienced a near catastrophe.

Objectives:

• Describe the possibility of an internal disaster and the impact and initial response to a sudden catastrophe.
• Describe clinical issues arising as a result of disaster; areas affected, and one agency's problems and responses.
• Describe the necessary aspects of financial and administrative preparedness for an agency disaster.

Faculty: Robert Carpenter, MBA, CPA, MCSE, CHCE, President and CEO, The VNA of Texas, Dallas, TX;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Leadership, Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Hospice

Leadership in Times of Change

Changes often completely turn an agency upside down. These changes include things like the death of a co-worker, a change in ownership, or even having the agency closed. One of the ways to examine the concept of change and its impact is to look at the common skill sets of leaders who led their organizations through major challenges. In this program we will examine leaders' personal traits and skills and assess whether these can be taught.

Objectives:

• Discuss participant's personal processing and coping style.
• Assess employee communication styles to present messages that are truly understood.
• Identify and develop leaders who have the skills to manage in times of change.

Faculty: Mary Argo, BA, MPA, Administrator, Universal Home Health and Hospice Care Inc., Bellefontaine, OH; Kathy Christiansen, Executive Director, Patient Care, Oak Park, IL;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);