Interoperable Communications Drill for Home Care and Hospice Coming in August
The Department of Health (DOH) will be holding an Interoperable Communications (IOC) emergency response drill on an unspecified date in August. The drill, on a date which will not be announced in advance, will involve home care and hospice agencies providing services outside of New York City. To prepare agencies, DOH will be holding webinars on July 23rd and 30th from 2 to 3 p.m. Agencies should pick one to view, as they are the same presentation. The IOC drill tests agencies’ ability to use a primary and back-up communication system to communicate with coalition partners. It will also test provider response to a survey on the Health Commerce System (HCS) within the timeframe outlined in an HCS alert.
On the day of the drill, agencies will receive an Integrated Health Alerting and Notification System (IHANS) message that outlines the emergency scenario and requirements to complete a Health Electronic Response Data System (HERDS) survey.
Registration for the webinar on July 23rd is here; for July 30th, here.
The drill, though voluntary, can be used to fulfill federal and/or state requirements for agencies to hold emergency preparedness exercises.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871