The new suite of tools helps providers meet CMS's new regulations.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (April 18, 2017)—Evans Incorporated, a provider of human-centered organizational, process, technology and operational consulting solutions focused on safety and fail-safe solutions in aviation and health care, today announces the launch of its CAARMA Emergency Health Preparedness Solutions Suite.

Evans’ unique patient-focused solutions are designed to help health care providers meet the November 15, 2017 implementation deadline for Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) emergency preparedness requirements. These new rules are designed to increase patient safety during emergencies and establish a more coordinated response to natural and human-caused disasters.

While Evans’ emergency health preparedness solutions are applicable to wide range of health care providers challenged to meet the November CMS deadline, they are especially well-suited for long-term care facilities and hospices, large physician practices/clinics, psychiatric residential treatment centers and community mental health centers. For the most part, these operations have not benefitted from the planning and preparation often seen in hospitals and other larger provider sites, even though the need at smaller facilities is just as pressing for their at-risk patient populations.

“Now more than ever, given the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism and disease outbreaks, effective emergency preparedness is needed across all health care provider types,” said Denise Braun, Evans’ Senior Manager for Healthcare Solutions. “That’s why we are introducing a suite of emergency preparedness planning solutions to assist providers who are increasingly challenged to ensure the well-being of vulnerable populations during a disruptive event, whether patients are in long-term care, acute care or community-based facilities.”

“Evans is building on our long track record of success in the aviation industry,” noted Braun, “where high-safety and human-focused solutions are needed to deal with life-and-death requirements for process and human operational effectiveness as well as strict adherence to process and operational design.”

This solutions suite, based on the CAARMA approach that is foundational to everything Evans does, helps provider organizations align strategically to the most important drivers of change in health care delivery caused by the increasing risk of public health emergencies and their potential impact on patients, operations and surrounding communities.

“Our team is ready and willing to help health care providers think outside the box—and challenge the status quo, if necessary—in order to meet the deadline,” said Jack Moore, partner and director at Evans. “Our human-centered process is focused on a sequential, inclusive approach that helps clients successfully embrace and profit from new initiatives and investments while working more effectively together. As a result, our clients can maximize the full potential of these efforts and reach ROI—Real Operational Impact.”

CAARMA Emergency Preparedness Solutions, which are customized to each facility, will provide solutions quickly and efficiently to assist multiple levels or areas of a health care organization in complying with, and exceeding, the following CMS-mandated requirements:

  • Developing an emergency plan based on a risk assessment and using an “all-hazards” approach, to provide an integrated system for emergency planning that focuses on capacities and capabilities.
  • Developing policies and procedures based on the emergency plan and risk assessment.
  • Developing and maintaining an emergency preparedness communications plan that complies with federal, state and local laws.
  • Developing and maintaining training and testing programs, including initial training in policies and procedures.

Beyond the challenges posed by the new CMS emergency preparedness rules, the Evans health care team also provides innovative, cost effective human-centered solutions for health care organizations facing other issues related to the ever-changing patient, regulatory and competitive environment. These include Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) reimbursement procedures for physicians, rules for insurance providers on how to charge for services on behalf of patients, and the process for transitioning to the use of electronic health records (EHRs).

Visit evansincorporated.com for more information.