Emergency Preparedness in the Evolving Ambulatory Landscape

As healthcare delivery continues to shift more to the ambulatory environment, it is critical that appropriate emergency preparedness and continuity of operations plans are developed and tested to support patient care operations. The diversity of ambulatory environments, including outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care centers, and outpatient infusion centers, requires a thoughtful and structured approach designed to support patients and staff and ensure adherence to regulatory guidelines.

In this presentation, we will describe the evolution of the Mass General Brigham ambulatory preparedness program including development of plans, an incident command structure, information system downtime plans and a training program to support ambulatory operations. We will discuss core components of an ambulatory emergency preparedness program, integration of emergency preparedness into the ambulatory management infrastructure, and lessons learned from our response to a variety of emergency situations. You will develop an understanding of why preparedness is critical in the ambulatory environment and how to develop programs for your own institution.