WAC 388-97-1740:

388-97-1720 << 388-97-1740 >> 388-97-17401

PDFWAC 388-97-1740

Disaster and emergency preparedness.

The department amended or suspended portions of this section from June 23, 2020, through June 7, 2022, in response to the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For requirements in place during that time, see WAC 388-97-17401.

(1) The nursing home must develop and implement detailed written plans and procedures to meet potential emergencies and disasters. At a minimum the nursing home must ensure these plans provide for:

(a) Fire or smoke;

(b) Flood;

(d) Loss of power or water;

(e) Earthquake;

(f) Explosion;

(g) Missing resident, elopement;

(h) Loss of normal water supply;

(i) Bomb threats;

(j) Armed individuals;

(k) Gas leak, or loss of service;

(l) Loss of heat supply;

(m) Infectious disease outbreak; and

(n) Any other events that may require sheltering in place, evacuations, or other emergency measures to protect the health and safety of residents.

(2) The nursing home emergency preparedness plan must:

(a) Be developed and maintained with the assistance of qualified fire, safety, and other appropriate experts as necessary;

(b) Include procedures for:

(i) Staff roles and responsibilities;

(ii) Accounting for residents;

(iii) Summoning emergency assistance and coordinating with first responders;

(iv) Plans for evacuation of the facility;

(v) Communicating emergency information to staff and residents as well as external partners, including emergency contacts for residents, state and local agencies, developmental disability ombuds, and long-term care ombuds;

(vi) How resident care and treatment needs will be maintained; and

(vii) Provision of essential resident needs and supplies, including water, food, medications, and personal care items.

(3) The nursing home must incorporate infection prevention and control capabilities into its emergency preparedness plan. At a minimum, the plan must:

(a) Include procedures for the procurement, inventory, tracking, safe storage, and rotation of personal protective equipment to ensure supplies remain within manufacturer recommended shelf life and are available for use; and

(b) Describe how the facility will ensure adequate staffing and implement isolation or cohorting procedures during an infectious disease emergency.

(4) In addition to the plan requirements, the nursing home must:

(a) Maintain an adequate supply of personal protective equipment appropriate to the facility size and resident population, including, but not limited to: gloves, gowns, surgical masks, eye protection, and NIOSH-approved respirators;

(b) Train all employees in emergency procedures when they begin work in the nursing home, review emergency procedures with existing staff at least annually, and carry out unannounced staff drills using those procedures;

(d) Communicate the location of the emergency preparedness plan to residents and staff to ensure access as needed during emergencies;

(e) Prominently post evacuation route(s) throughout the facility, and at minimum on every floor, if applicable; and

(f) Comply with WAC 388-97-4360.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090, 18.51.070, 70.97.230, chapters 70.129, 74.42, and 74.39 RCW. WSR 26-02-045, s 388-97-1740, filed 1/2/26, effective 2/2/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.42.620 and chapter 18.51 RCW. WSR 24-07-008, § 388-97-1740, filed 3/7/24, effective 4/7/24. Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.51 and 74.42 RCW and 42 C.F.R. 489.52. WSR 08-20-062, § 388-97-1740, filed 9/24/08, effective 11/1/08.]