HCA 545 Terrorism and Natural Disaster Preparations

Sample Answer

The threats of natural disasters and terrorism are always real and when they occur, businesses such as hospitals may suffer the most damages. As such, it becomes advisable for such businesses to prepare themselves in the event that the threats become real. One of the most important ways through which businesses can prepare themselves is via the formulation of a business plan contingency. The primary objective of contingency planning is to aid a business organization to produce proper response to an emergency alongside its attendant humanitarian effect (Tracey et al., 2017).

The existence of contingency planning is thus fundamental to the existence and survival of a business in the aftermath of an emergency. The development of a contingency planning g entails formulating advance decisions concerning the management of financial and human resources, communications and coordination procedures, as well as having awareness regarding the logistical and technical responses. Moreover, contingency planning has several steps including preparing, analyzing, developing, implementing and reviewing the measures.

The efforts involved in the creation of a contingency plan need to be collaborative in nature to produce the desired effect. The present paper will thus focus on the importance of contingency planning, the requisite areas of a contingency plan, and the communication of a contingency planning particulars. Moreover, the preparation of a contingency plan occurs alongside organizational threat assessment.

Importance of Incorporating a Business Contingency Plan

Organizations need to assess their vulnerability in the event of a bioterrorism attack and formulate a corresponding contingency plan for the same. Contingency planning has several benefits to a business as the occurrence of a disaster may render them unable to provide its services. Thus, one of the most important reasons to integrate a business contingency plan involves its capacity to protect an enterprise from harmful or risky scenarios via preemptive and efficient planning (Kitagawa, Preston, & Chadderton, 2017).

Moreover, contingency planning helps organizations to exercise more flexibility when they handle any foreseeable challenges that may afflict it. By having one in place, an organization will manage to handle any difficulties irrespective of the situation. Also, the sole purpose of a contingency plan is to enable a business to respond to situations. A business with a contingency plan does that quicker in comparison to one without. When unplanned occurrences happen, businesses that have designed their contingency plans are better placed to overcome problems before it causes severe damage to the organization.

Incidentally, the occurrence of disasters is characterized by panic among the employees. However, when employees know that solutions exist in the form of a contingency plan, they become more confident and responsive to them. The contingency plan thus helps businesses to maintain order as well as prevent panic and chaos from causing havoc during the occurrence of a disaster. Contingency planning also helps organizations to minimize losses in the event of a disaster. These plans normally possess strategies to restart production in spite of the unforeseen circumstances, which plans can make a difference concerning whether a business will survive a natural or bioterrorist attack or otherwise.

Therefore, contingency planning is important as it cushions a business against the shock of a disaster and enables it to respond to them in an appropriate manner.

Components of a Contingency Plan

The formulation of a contingency plan as regards responding to a disaster contains several critical components. These components are significant as they will ensure effectiveness. They include the following:

Workforce Training

The maintenance of an informed workforce is crucial to the success of a contingency plan. Depending on the size of a business, the leadership could initiate either actual training or awareness enhancement. Businesses need to train at least one contact or resource person such as a health coordinator so as to have real-time data on happenstances as well as maintaining worker contact (Kitagawa, Preston, & Chadderton, 2017). It is important that the coordinator continues to receive relevant education to make them updated on latest skills necessary for the role.

Mitigation of Confusion

The occurrence of any disaster will always result in confusion. The existence of panics may lead to more damage during the occurrence of a disaster. Thus, having strategies to dispel fear during such happenstances is critical to the success of any plan. As such, an organization’s leadership needs to hold training, prior discussions on the possibilities and preparedness and response options to any scenario (Johnson, 2009).

Conducting the above will enable the leaders to mitigate confusion in the event of an attack or a natural disaster. The requisite stratagems for responding to the occurrence will also require fast and clear communication to stem further confusion. Also, the mitigation of confusion will also depend on the existence of clearly defined roles within an organizational setup and during the response efforts.

Time Management

Time management is a crucial response factor in any natural disaster or bioterrorist attack. It becomes even more essential when the attack entail contagious diseases. Providing timely intervention will reduce the number of casualties and general impact of an event.

Building a Response Capacity

The presence of a response capacity is crucial to ensuring that the impact of a disaster is minimized. Properly training personnel and offering the requisite equipment forms an essential part of response capacity building. The development of a quick and effective response to an attack or disaster in collaboration with local health players also forms part of a response capacity (Johnson, 2009). Further, other aspects of response capacity building may include costs associated with training, downtime, equipment and supplies.

Coordination of Local Health Agencies

The primacy responsibility of a response plan is to reduce casualties. The reduction of casualties occurs when there is proper coordination amongst players such as local health agencies. The coordination of these agencies removes confusion while ensuring that each health agencies knows exactly their role (Martin, 2016). The existence of such ensures the presence of efficiency during disaster response, which is a critical success factor against natural disasters or attacks.

Mitigation of Fear and Panic

Training an organizational workforce as well as the general population about natural disasters and bioterrorist attacks is a crucial facet of a contingency plan. Undertaking such reduces fear and anxiety since response command will be established. The presence of a disaster command center will give people the confidence that the situation is being handled appropriately, which will address their fears and panic.

Communication of Contingency Plan Particulars

Communication is an important aspect of a contingency plan. Relaying the particulars of the business contingency plan to various stakeholders is fundamental to ensuring its success. As such, business leaders mostly rely on awareness as a mode of communication. It is imperative for business leaders to inform their employees, board of directors and other personnel about the existence of preventative as well as response/policy programs (Crosse, 2003). Informing the stakeholders about the above may occur through various methodologies.

One of the most widely used methods entails briefings (Johnson, 2009). Moreover, leaders may also adopt the usage of security enhancements and in-service workshops to make the communication. Other prevalently adopted methodologies include mock exercises and simulations and coordination with local players in the health sector. Adopting a combination of the above strategies will ensure that the message reaches the intended target.

Organization’s Business Threat Evaluation

a. Biological Terrorism Threat Evaluation for Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

• Step 1 Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is a medium business with 1 Point ROW 3.
• Step 2 Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s dependence on human resources to perform missions is moderate with 1-point ROW 3
• Step 3 Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is located in a larger city with 1.5 (one and a half points) ROW 4.
• Step 4 The mission of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is 1 Point ROW 3
• Step 5 Threat level = 1+1+1.5+1= 4.5. Thus, the threat level for Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is moderate.

b. Bioterrorism Threat Evaluation for a Community – Composite

• Step 1 The population of Palmer, Alaska is 100 000, which corresponds to 1.34 points.
• Step 2 The industrial production composite of Palmer is 10-19% which corresponds to 1.34 points
• Step 3 The traveler traffic for Palmer is 20-29% which translates to 2.34 points
• Step 4 Threat level is = 1.34+1.34+ 2.34= 5.02= moderate threat

c. Business and Community Preparation Guidance Based on Threat Level

• The business and/or Community-Composite Threat Level Measure is 2-4 points= moderate.
• The Bioterrorism and Infectious Disease Preparedness Plan (Priority Level) is High
• The Community Collaboration Plan with Action Steps and Establishment of Command and Control Authority is Moderate to High
• Infection Control Plan, Post Exposure Management Plan, Workforce Education Program, and Off-Site Contingency Plan is High

Sample Forms for Organizational Contingency Planning for Disasters and Terrorism

a. Emergency Supplies

Water	One gallon per individual for 5 days
Food	5 days of supplies for non-perishable goods
First Aid Kit	200 first aid kits
Dust/Filter masks	Readily available for 200 people in hardware store based on the size of the particle
Flash light and extra batteries	10 of each
Garbage bags and plastic ties	For personal sanitation

 

b. Cost of Developing a Disaster Protection and Business Continuity Plan

LIST AMOUNT (USD)

Meeting with insurance provider to review current coverage rate	0.00
Talk to company personnel about its disaster plan	0.00
Critical list of business contractors for emergencies	0.00
Inventory and Equipment List	0.00
Promoting Family and Individual Preparedness	0.00
Fire extinguisher and smoke alarm	400
Setting up telephone call tree etc.	450
CPR and First Aid Training to Key Co-Workers	500
Computer Anti-Virus Software and Firewalls	350
Back Up Records and Critical Data	450
Additional Insurance	10000
Prewire Generator Purchasing and Installing	3000
Building Evaluation	4000
First Aid and CPR Training	10000
HVAC System Upgrade	2000

 

References

• Crosse, M. (2003). Hospital Preparedness Most Urban Hospitals Have Emergency Plans but Lack Certain Capacities for Bioterrorism Response GAO-03-924. GAO Reports (p. 1). U.S. Government Accountability Office. Retrieved from https //search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=18209932&site=ehost-live&scope=site
• Johnson, J. A. (2009). Health organizations Theory, behavior, and development. Boston, MA Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN-13 9780763750534. Retrieved from http //gcumedia.com/digital-resources/jonesandbartlett/2009/health-organizations_-theory-behavior-and-development_ebook_1e.php
• Kitagawa, K., Preston, J., & Chadderton, C. (2017). Preparing for disaster a comparative analysis of education for critical infrastructure collapse. Journal of Risk Research, 20(11), 1450-1465.
• Martin, R. H. (2016). Soft Targets are Easy Terror Targets Increased Frequency of Attacks, Practical Preparation, and Prevention. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal.
• Tracey, S., O’Sullivan, T. L., Lane, D. E., Guy, E., & Courtemanche, J. (2017). Promoting resilience using an asset-based approach to business continuity planning. SAGE Open, 7(2), 2158244017706712.