Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes and Hospitals Are Receiving Frequent Wellness Checks

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla. — Before, during and following Hurricane Irma, health care facilities throughout Florida have been implementing emergency plans to keep patients safe. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Health is conducting frequent and vigorous outreach to facilities every day, which includes daily calls with hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In-person wellness checks are being conducted for facilities when contact cannot be made or any facility that reports distress. All facilities are being directed to contact 911 if patients are in jeopardy. AHCA is staffing the facility hotline 24 hours a day at 1-888-419-3456. Both AHCA and DOH are working around the clock to ensure all ALFs, nursing homes and hospitals have the resources they need.   

Health care facilities have been provided with multiple pathways to communicate their needs with state officials and local emergency officials. This includes convening daily calls with facilities in advance of, during and after the storm. Reporting includes the online facility reporting database, FLHealthSTAT. These multiple mechanisms allow health care facilities to communicate needs to state emergency officials, including power outages, generator availability, fuel needs, spot coolers, ice and any other needs. 

Hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities in Florida are required to have emergency operation plans. Requirements vary by facility type, but are all based in statute and rule. A complete list is available here. Hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are required to submit and receive approval for their plans from either the county emergency management or local county health department (this varies among counties and/or facility type).

Facilities that are not regulated by the state, such as retirement communities, are advised to call local emergency management or 911 if you are in need of support.

Power restoration remains a top priority for the state, particularly for facilities that serve vulnerable populations. As of this morning, more than 70% of power in the state has been restored.

STATUS AS OF 1 PM FRIDAY, SEPT. 15

Assisted Living Facilities:

193 are utilizing generators

1,978 have power

182 have reported as being closed

177 have reported post-storm evacuations

Nursing Homes:

34 are utilizing generators

669 have power

10 have reported being closed

40 have reported post-storm evacuations

Hospitals:

2 are utilizing generators

299 have power

8 have reported being closed

7 have reported post-storm evacuations.