The role of the senior nurse at a regional hospital

 


assume the role of the senior nurse at a regional hospital who has
been assigned to develop a disaster recovery plan for the community using MAP-IT and trace-mapping, which you will present to city officials and the disaster relief team.

Introduction
For a health care facility to be able to fill its role in the community, it must actively plan not only for normal operation, but also for worst-case scenarios which could occur. In such disasters, the
hospital's services will be particularly crucial, even if the specifics of the disaster make it more difficult for the facility to stay open.
As the senior nurse at the Smallville Regional Hospital, you play a vital role in ensuring the
hospital's readiness for disasters and its ability to recover from them. The hospital administrator wants to discuss disaster preparedness and recovery with you. Before the conversation, it would be helpful to familiarize yourself with the background information on events that have occurred in Smallville in recent years, including the involvement of the hospital.

Background
Investigate further for relevant background information.
Newspaper Headline: “Smallville Devastated by Wildfire: Rebuilding and Recovery Underway”
November 8, 2022
Smallville, CA - In a tragic turn of events, the northern California town of Smallville was ravaged by a devastating wildfire on July 6, 2021. The fire, which quickly spread through the town, destroyed nearly 19,000 structures and claimed the lives of 31 residents. The community is now faced with the daunting task of rebuilding and recovering from this catastrophic event. The fire, known as the Blaze, raced into Smallville with unprecedented speed and intensity, leaving residents with little time to evacuate. Many were forced to flee on foot, seeking refuge in parking lots and commercial buildings that were never intended to serve as temporary shelters
in a firestorm.
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The impact of this disaster was felt particularly hard by residents of low socioeconomic status (SES). People in poverty, with low incomes, and of low SES often face greater challenges in recovering from disasters. The loss of homes, possessions, and livelihoods has left many in a state of uncertainty and vulnerability.
However, amidst the devastation, there is hope. The community has come together to support one another and begin the process of rebuilding. Local organizations, government agencies, and volunteers have joined forces to provide assistance and resources to those affected by the
fire. Experts studying the response to disasters like the Blaze emphasize the need for a radical overhaul in how we prepare for and respond to such events in the era of climate change.
This includes rethinking disaster recovery strategies and implementing measures to mitigate the impact of future disasters.
The town of Smallville is determined to rise from the ashes and rebuild stronger than ever. City leaders are working on developing comprehensive emergency plans and evacuation standards to ensure the safety of residents in the face of future wildfires.
The community is resilient and united in their efforts to restore their beloved town. As the
rebuilding and recovery process continues, it is crucial for the nation to learn from this tragedy and implement measures to better prepare for and respond to disasters.
The lessons learned from the Blaze will serve as a wake-up call for communities across the
country, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning and effective disaster response
strategies.
Fact Sheet: Smallville, CA
Population: 5,200
Median Household Income: $60,000
Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line: 22%
Racial/Ethnic Composition:
White: 69%
African American: 6%
Native American: 2%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10%
Other Races: 8%
Two or More Races: 5%

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Additionally, there are an unknown number of undocumented migrant workers with limited
English proficiency.
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+: 84.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+: 18.5%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years: 10.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years: 12.5%
Income & Poverty
Median household income: $37,476
Per capita income in past 12 months: $20,274
Persons in poverty: 23.0%
Staff Interviews
Dr. Peter Jenski, Internal Medicine. "The impact of the fire on the residents of Smallville has
been devastating. Many of them have lost their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. The fire
has also had a significant impact on their physical and mental health."
Bill Reiner, Social Worker: "Yes, I agree. People in low socioeconomic status groups are
particularly vulnerable to the effects of disasters like this one. They often face greater
challenges in recovering from disasters."
Nurse Kaley Grant, ICU: "That's right. The fire has increased the risk of respiratory and lung
diseases, which can be particularly harmful to people with pre-existing conditions."
Dr. Linh Boswell, Psychiatrist: "And let's not forget about the mental health impact. The
trauma of losing everything in a fire can be overwhelming. Many residents are experiencing
symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression."
Dr. Tom Sowka, Pharmacist: "It's important that we provide comprehensive care to these
patients, addressing both their physical and mental health needs. We need to work together to
ensure that they receive the care and resources they need to recover from this disaster."
Dr. Luisa Gonzalez, Hospital Administrator: " I couldn't agree more. We need to work
together as a medical community to support the affected residents and implement
comprehensive emergency plans and evacuation standards to mitigate the impact of future
disasters. We can learn from previous disasters and use those lessons to better prepare for
future events."

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Request from Administrator
Dr. Luisa Gonzalez, Smallville Hospital Administrator, has asked you to present a compelling
case to community stakeholders for the proposed disaster recovery plan. She requests you use
the MAP-IT model, which is a step-by-step, structured plan that can be developed by a coalition
that is tailored to a specific community's needs.
The MAP-IT model involves all stakeholders, making for a widely-supported and community-
owned effort. It assesses assets as well as needs and looks for ways to use them.
The five steps of the MAP-IT model are:
1. Mobilize individuals and organizations that care about the health of your community into
a coalition.
2. Assess the areas of greatest need in your community, as well as the resources and
other strengths that you can tap into to address those areas.
3. Plan your approach: start with a vision of where you want to be as a community; then
add strategies and action steps to help you achieve that vision.
4. Implement your plan using concrete action steps that can be monitored and will make a
difference.
5. Track your progress over time.


In addition to using the MAP-IT model, work up an approach supported by Healthy People 2020 and put it all into a PowerPoint. You can save the PowerPoint deck and the audio of its
accompanying presentation at the public library so that the public can access it and see that
you're serious. By doing this, you can create a prototype for other local communities near thisone, and possibly other facilities in the organization. To ensure that the disaster recovery plan is effective, you can also involve diverse stakeholders, replace guesswork and hunches with data-
driven decisions, and create comprehensive, detailed plans that define the roles and
responsibilities of disaster recovery team members and outline the criteria to launch the plan into action.

 

1. Develop a disaster recovery plan for the community that will reduce health disparities and improve access to services after a disaster.
o Assess community needs.
o Consider resources, personnel, budget, and community makeup.
o Identify the people accountable for implementation of the plan and describe their roles.
o Focus on specific Healthy People 2020 goals and 2030 objectives.
o Include a timeline for the recovery effort.
2. Apply the MAP-IT (Mobilize, Assess, Plan, Implement, Track) framework to guide the development of your plan:
o Mobilize collaborative partners.
o Assess community needs.
 Use the demographic data and specifics related to the disaster to identify the needs of the community and develop a recovery plan. Consider physical, emotional, cultural, and financial needs of the entire community.
 Include in your plan the equitable allocation of services for the diverse community.
 Apply the triage classification to provide a rationale for those who may have been injured during the train derailment. Provide support for your position.
 Include in your plan contact tracing of the homeless, disabled, displaced community members, migrant workers, and those who have hearing impairment or English as a second language in the event of severe tornadoes.
o Plan to reduce health disparities and improve access to services.
 

Slide 2: Background: The Blaze & Health Disparities

Context: The Blaze Wildfire (July 2021)

Impact19,000 structures destroyed; 31 lives lost.
Identified Health NeedsRespiratory disease, exacerbation of chronic conditions, PTSD, depression, and trauma.
Staff Feedback"The trauma of losing everything can be overwhelming... low SES groups are particularly vulnerable."

Community Vulnerability Data (Targeting Health Disparities)

Demographic FactorSmallville DataHealth Disparity Risk
Poverty23.0% of persons in poverty (vs. Median HH Income: $37,476)Highest risk of housing instability and resource depletion post-disaster.
Uninsured12.5% of persons under 65 years without health insurance.Lack of access to follow-up care for chronic illness and mental health trauma.
Education18.5% Bachelor’s degree or higher.Lower health literacy and potential difficulties accessing complex governmental aid.
Cultural/LanguageUnknown number of undocumented migrant workers with limited English proficiency (LEP).Exclusion from official relief efforts and critical health/safety communications.

Conclusion: The recovery plan MUST be specifically designed to address the needs of the most vulnerable 23% and the LEP/migrant worker population to ensure equity.

Slide 3: MAP-IT Step 1: Mobilize (The Smallville Recovery Coalition)

The goal is to bring together diverse organizations with clear, assigned accountability to drive community-owned success.

Coalition PartnerRole and Accountabilities
Smallville Regional Hospital (SRH)LEAD AGENCY (Senior Nurse & Admin): Provides clinical expertise, data analysis, resource allocation, and clinical service coordination (Physical & Mental Health).
City Officials (Mayor/Council)Policy & Budget: Secures municipal funding, coordinates public works, amends zoning/evacuation policies, and provides official public messaging.
Local Social Services & Non-ProfitsVulnerability & Outreach: Manages housing assistance, financial aid distribution, tracing of displaced individuals, and direct outreach to low-SES and LEP communities.

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smallville Regional Hospital Disaster Recovery and Resilience Plan

Presented to: Smallville City Officials & Disaster Relief Team

By: Senior Nurse, Smallville Regional Hospital

Slide 1: Introduction and Mandate

The Hospital’s Role in Community Resilience

For Smallville Regional Hospital (SRH) to fulfill its crucial role, we must plan not just for operation during a crisis, but for robust Recovery and Resilience after one.

Mandate: Develop a sustainable, data-driven disaster recovery plan utilizing the MAP-IT model to mitigate the lasting health consequences of events like The Blaze wildfire.

Goal: Reduce health disparities and ensure equitable access to comprehensive physical and mental health services for all Smallville residents.

Frameworks: MAP-IT (Mobilize, Assess, Plan, Implement, Track) & Trace-Mapping.

Output: A community-owned prototype for disaster recovery.

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