LeadingAge New York Annual Conference 2017 June 2017 | Page 8

Get the Wristband On
By Kathie Kane
You’ve received notification of a potential evacuation and staff
go into action – smoothly, just as they rehearsed. Preplanning
and practice could make the difference between an orderly,
safe evacuation or a potentially life-or-death situation for
residents and staff.
Where is the scanner? What about the forms and wristbands?
Do you have everything in one place where anyone, at any
time, can find it? Perhaps a toolbox or other container kept in
a common area?
Have you practiced scanning and evacuation with your staff?
The bracelets in the practice envelope are for that specific
purpose. Practice will enable your staff to evacuate residents
in a smooth and safe manner. Evacuation is stressful even
under ideal circumstances – for you, your staff and your
residents.
In Demonstration of the DOH Emergency Event Tracking
System (NYS e-FINDS) attendees were reminded by staff at
the Department of Health (DOH) that clear step-by-step
instructions have been provided. They acknowledged that the
instructions can be confusing when you are trying to gather
resources and ensure the safe evacuation of residents. Practice
will give your staff the confidence they need to complete steps
in an efficient and safe manner.
If you are told to evacuate…
Get the Wristband On
1. Scan it
2. Enter Information about the evacuee into the computer
3. Hit send and send the resident to a safe evacuation point
When the patient arrives at the destination facility:
1. Scan the wristband
2. Set the current location
3. Hit receive and that’s it!
What if you don’t have time to enter the patient
information?
Get the Wristband On and scan it.
Your resident will now be in the system and
information can be completed in the parking
lot, on the transportation bus or even at the
destination facility.
What if the transportation vehicle is diverted to a
community facility?
Get the Wristband On , DOH will be contacted and
will arrive at the community evacuation facility
with e-FINDS equipment to track the people who
have been diverted.
What if I have no power to complete the scan or
data entry?
Get the Wristband On then manually enter the patient
information and number from the wristband. Use
the paper logs provided in the packets from DOH.
Send the paperwork with your evacuees.
What if a person arrives at your facility without
a wristband?
Put one of your wristbands on them and scan it. They
will be in the system and now e-FINDS can begin
tracking them. Eventually, they will locate their sending
facility and they will be reunited.
Each facility should look their procedures, residents
and protocols but in the event of an evacuation, Get
the Wristband On and assure your residents are safe and
part of the statewide tracking system.
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Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Summer 2017