Hospice Care in Emergency Planning and Response

Outcomes 1. Analyze the role of hospices and research needs relative to emergency preparedness and response. 2. Evaluate at least five (5) key hospice considerations in emergency planning and response. Key Message Hospices play an important role in emergency planning and response, but there are several challenges including lack of role definition and inconsistencies in guidance. The formulation of best practices and the pursuit of a research agenda could provide further opportunities to strengthen hospices' role in planning for and managing disasters. Abstract The underlying characteristics of hospice translate into unique considerations for emergency preparedness planning. These characteristics also convey both organizational vulnerabilities and strengths when responding to disasters. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have recently expanded their Emergency Preparedness Conditions of Participation for hospice, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of end-of-life care in disaster planning and response. 1,2 However, the lack of a clearly defined role at federal, state, and local authorities remain as barriers for hospices as they pursue emergency preparedness. 3 Additionally, collaboration with other preparedness partners has been identified as a challenge. Despite this, many hospice providers have experience in disasters and an examination of the academic and professional literature reveals some important roles that hospices may play in their communities during times of disaster. 4 Collaboration with other emergency management partners can provide bi-directional benefit for hospices, healthcare systems, and the communities in which they serve. Continued research in this specialized area is needed to improve hospices' emergency preparedness efforts. Further research is needed in the clarifying the roles of hospices in disasters, best practices in preparedness and response, understanding experiences of hospice providers in disasters, methods of protecting the hospice workforce, and how hospice emergency preparedness planning can help foster resilience in vulnerable communities. Keywords Advocacy / Policy / Regulations Scientific Research