Hunterdon County Division of Public Health

1. Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Promising Practices May 30, 2014

2. Karen DeMarcoHealth Officerkdemarco@co.hunterdon.nj.us908-788-1351

3. Highlighted programs • Medical Needs Shelter Standard Operating Guidelines • Fixed Facility Program

4. Medical Needs Shelter SOG Hunterdon

5. Medical Needs Shelter (MNS) • HCDPH developed Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) for a Medical Needs Shelter based on sheltering experiences during Super-storm Sandy. • The entire SOG is currently available on SharePoint. • Unique features of the plan include: • Patient Identification • Forms

6. MNS Patient Identification • During Sandy, many of the evacuees suffered from “Sundowners Syndrome” and had difficulty with their memory in the evening. Patient ID was critical for these individuals. • In the SOG, each person “admitted” to the shelter: • Receives an ID wristband with name and bed # • A medical record is developed • Photo taken and attached to medical record • Medical records in the nurses’ station • A “White Board” system outlines any bed changes and shift changes

7. MNS Forms • HCDPH developed forms to accompany MNS operations • Triage Assessment • Health Intake Form • Health Intake Notes • Problem List • 24 Hour Notes • Triage Form

10. MNS Forms • Health Intake Form • Serves as the patient’s Medical Record • Includes any equipment being brought into the shelter (hearing aids, wheel-chair, nebulizer, eye-glasses, etc.) • Problem List • A form to track any issues with patient, such as pharmacy needs and the resolution • 24 Hour Notes • An hour by hour tracking form for each patient

11. Fixed Facility Program Hunterdon

12. Fixed Facility Increase • In the last 12 months HCDPH doubled the number of fixed facilities within the county • Focus on developing fixed facility within each school in the county • Rolled out the program in Spring of 2013 at the annual meeting for school nurses in Hunterdon County • Additional recruitment through face to face meetings with school nurses and/or administrators and at POD site reviews • Instructional Toolkit provided to each employer at meeting

13. Fixed Facility Instructional ToolKit • Pocket #1: Information for Employer • Cover letter describing the Fixed Facility Program for distribution of medication during an emergency • Copy of the NJ Health Powers Act • Summary form of registrants from the employer • Letter of Understanding (includes 3 company contacts) • Pocket #2: Information for each Employee • Cover letter describing Fixed Facility Program • Employee Registration Form (stays at facility with staff liaison)

14. Challenges • Time-consuming • Program coordinator speaks with some on a daily basis to get the program up and running • Some districts requiring Board of Education approval and some Boards are resistant

15. To date • Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Fixed Facility Program protects 8,869 individuals • Includes 14 school districts • Equates to approximately 7% of the county population

16. Thank you!