When disaster strikes, there’s no time for second guessing. Preparation is essential. And even more so throughout the Apalachee Region, an area prone to severe weather incidents. Disasters of this nature require a coordinated and collaborative effort among first responders and support agencies, and the Big Bend Healthcare Coalition (BBHCC) serves as this forum, facilitating a response that best leverages the resources and capabilities of all healthcare providers and partners engaged.
Emergency management planning can be daunting, no matter how necessary it may be. To address this issue, and ensure ease and accessibility, the Florida Healthcare Coalitions worked collaboratively to fund an online planning platform for healthcare facilities statewide. Users are able to develop and maintain their Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) in the platform using an AHCA-compliant template that helps them easily meet the requirements for annual approval of their plan. While not required to do so by law, the Coalitions also developed a Continuity of Operations (COOP) template for their use, to help plan out how to keep their main agency functions operational when their organizations face significant disruptions from emergency or disaster events. Additionally, there is an option for plan-checkers to check the plan off within the platform, thereby eliminating significant back-and-forth via the exchange of emails and physical copies of plans between facilities and those who approve the plans. This is simply an option; use of this platform is not mandated.
Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) is proud to have been a part of this effort. Christian Levings, ARPC Emergency Planning Manager, who has extensive experience in plan-approval, advised and steered the development group to ensure that the CEMP development interface remained consistent with the AHCA guidance checklist for CEMP’s.
The resulting platform has streamlined a historically cumbersome process, allowing for superior planning and preparation throughout the State of Florida.
And the newly developed platform is already award-winning! We are thrilled to announce that ARPC received the 2024 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities. We proudly accept this recognition and remain committed to improving quality of life for all throughout the Apalachee Region!
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