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A comparative study of laws, rules, codes and other influences on nursing homes' disaster preparedness in the Gulf Coast states
Author(s) -
Brown Lisa M.,
Hyer Kathryn,
PolivkaWest LuMarie
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.785
Subject(s) - disaster preparedness , vendor , preparedness , nursing homes , state (computer science) , disaster planning , hurricane katrina , law , business , suicide prevention , poison control , emergency management , nursing , medicine , political science , medical emergency , geography , natural disaster , computer science , meteorology , algorithm
In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated several Gulf Coast states and caused many deaths. The hurricane‐ related deaths of 70 nursing home residents—34 believed drowned in St. Rita's Nursing Home in Louisiana and 36 from 12 other nursing homes—highlighted problems associated with poorly developed and executed disaster plans, uninformed evacuation decision‐making, and generally inadequate response by providers and first responders (DHHS, 2006; Hyer, Brown, Berman, & Polivka‐West, 2006). Such loss of human life perhaps could have been prevented and certainly lessened if, prior to the hurricanes, policies, regulations, and laws had been enacted, executable disaster guidelines been available, vendor contracts been honored, and sufficient planning taken place. This article discusses applicable federal and state laws and regulations that govern disaster preparedness with a particular focus on nursing homes. It highlights gaps in these laws and makes suggestions regarding future disaster planning. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.