DHHS OIG Study on Hospital Emergency Preparedness and Response During Superstorm Sandy
Federal regulations require that hospitals prepare for
emergencies including natural disasters. The strength of
Superstorm Sandy and the population density of the affected areas
placed high demands on hospitals and related services. Prior
studies by the Office of Inspector General found substantial
challenges in health care facility emergency preparedness and
response. In a 2006 study, we found that many nursing homes had
insufficient emergency plans or did not follow their plans. In a
2012 followup study, we found that gaps continued to exist in
nursing home emergency preparedness and response.
