Winter storms are part of VNA planning
While many of us are aware that hurricanes, nor’easters, and snowstorms can raise havoc here on the Cape, with downed trees and no electricity, it’s probably not something we think about until the weather forecast becomes imminent.
With a service area that spans more than 1,300 square miles from Provincetown to Plymouth, and more than 300,000 visits annually, the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod (VNA) prepares their patients for storm-related emergencies and possible loss of electricity way ahead of those forecasts.
It begins when a patient is admitted to their care and is focused on safety, education and their needs.
“Our ultimate goal is always to have patients remain safely in their homes, whether there is an impending storm or not,” said Virginia Ela-Snowdon PT, VNA rehab clinical team manager.
The preparations begin with the creation of an emergency plan that includes rehabilitation, skilled nursing and hospice care patients.
“We have an emergency preparedness plan that all patients fill out for the home care agency,” said Amanda Porter, MSN, RN, VNA director of education. “It asks what the individual patient’s plan is, which gets them thinking about what they would need to do, and each patient gets an admission booklet that contains an emergency checklist. We reference that when we help prepare them for a storm.”
“While we may have a different focus with regards to pain and symptom management, we follow the same emergency preparedness plans.” said Janet Reid-Howe, RN, BSN, MBA, Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod Hospice clinical manager/interim director of Hospice.
In addition to preparedness plans, clinicians review a checklist of important items with their patients and caregivers ahead of the storm, including:
- Do they have enough food and water?
- Are their medications running low?
- Do they have enough oxygen to get them through the storm and extra tanks if they lose electricity?
- Do they know where all their assistive devices are in their home?
- Do they have a backup generator?
- Do they have family members locally or off Cape they can stay with, if necessary?
“We will remind them to call their pharmacy to get refills of their medications if they are running low,” said Porter. “We want to make sure they have enough of their medications because that is what will bring them back to the hospital if they stop taking them.”
Another important consideration on the list is oxygen.
“If I have a patient that needs a high level of oxygen, I will be pro-active in placing them in a facility, if they are agreeable,” said Reid-Howe. “Shelters won’t take oxygen.”
Patients who will be remaining at home during a storm are encouraged to call their oxygen vendors to make sure they have an adequate supply in the home and to request oxygen tank deliveries ahead of a storm, in case the electricity is out for an extended period.
Another aspect is making sure patients know where their assistive devices are, especially if they lose electricity.
Ela-Snowdon said it is especially important with orthopedic patients.
“Part of their care plan is educating them to have their assistive devices, walkers, canes, crutches and safety equipment in place where they are easily accessible. They also need to have clear pathways, so they are not putting themselves at risk,” she said.
Other Phases of the Plan
The agency checks in with patients, especially if they live alone, reminding them of what they need to do, pay attention to weather reports, and making sure they are all set, said Porter.
Clinicians also provide education specific to the patient’s medical needs and develop a backup plan if they can’t get down their road because of snow or power lines are down. For example, they may teach a patient with a wound how to change an outer bandage and not the entire dressing. “That is their backup plan,” said Porter. “If there is a medication involved, we will let their physician know what the backup plan is, if we can’t get to the home.”
In addition to preparing patients and families for emergencies, the VNA staff have steps they follow to support their patients after storms.
“We make sure our staff has their cell phones fully charged, computers are fully charged, and we text instead of talking because it uses less battery,” said Reid-Howe. “This helps to keep our staff safe, as well.”
“We really try to look ahead when we plan and try to adjust so we can get everybody seen before the storm and check in with them during or after storm,” said Porter. “It’s a lot of ongoing reminding and communication that we do.”
The VNA also has a 24-hour line for their active patients and caregivers to call in the event they have any questions or concerns, especially during an emergency.
