In just a few short weeks the hurricane season begins in many parts of the country. Joint Commission requirement EC.4.10 received a major overhaul in January (split into EC.4.11-EC.4.18) that addresses issues associated with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. One of the most important components involves the requirement that hospitals determine whether they can survive on their own without community support for up to 96 hours during a disaster. This means the entire hospital, including the laboratory. Has your lab assessed its ability to stand alone during a prolonged disaster?
Figuring out what factors will limit you is a challenge for anyone. For example, you might have a two-week supply of gloves or a 10-day supply of reagents, but only a two-day supply of vehicle fuel for the courier's cars to transport specimens to and from the laboratory. It is easy to address the big things that we order frequently, but we tend to overlook the everyday purchases that we take for granted, such as gas for our automobiles.
If you haven't done your assessment, do so this week and rest easier knowing you are prepared for any disaster, no matter what time of year it is.
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