JCAHO Emergency Management Standards

The Joint Commission--formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)--first introduced standards covering emergency management procedures in 2001. The standards are designed to ensure that healthcare organizations can continue providing healthcare for clients, patients and residents in emergency situations.

Plan

• The Joint Commission's standards require each hospital or healthcare provider in the U.S. to develop an emergency management plan to ensure services remain available in emergency situations. Healthcare providers offering emergency care must create plans including internal and external disaster management.

Command

• Hospitals are required under JCAHO standards to implement an incident command system similar to those used by emergency medical services and fire departments. The American Academy of Emergency Physicians reports that each staff member must have a specified role under the emergency management standards that they are aware of and trained in.

Community

• Emergency management plans created for healthcare organizations should easily integrate into the systems of external community groups, such as local health departments and emergency responders. The Joint Commission reports each plan should include the potential man-made and natural disasters likely to face the community surrounding a healthcare organization.