In the event of an emergency: Be prepared
Answers in Practice
By Emily Margosian, Assistant Editor, January 1, 2024
DermWorld talks to Kevin Crawford, MD, FAAD, from Forefront Dermatology in Seymour, Indiana, about office preparedness planning for emergency events.
DermWorld: Tell us about your practice.
DermWorld: Does your practice have procedures in place for emergency events?
Dr. Crawford: Yes. Whether you are a solo practitioner or with a larger organization with multiple clinics, it is imperative to have a solid plan to handle all types of emergencies and disasters.
DermWorld: What types of events are staff trained on? When and why did you institute these policies?
Dr. Crawford: At our clinics, safety is a top priority. All physicians and staff have detailed policies and procedures in place to ensure the health and safety of our patients and employees. An effective disaster plan is designed to rationally combat, manage, and respond to threats before they occur.
Our organization has had an anti-violence policy in place since October 2009 and a disaster preparedness policy since April 2015. They were instituted to establish proper safety training and planning for natural disasters, active shooters, disgruntled patients, bomb threats, suspicious packages, and workplace violations.
DermWorld: What are your procedures if someone were to enter your office and threaten staff and/or patients?
Dr. Crawford: The clinic leadership ensures the staff is prepared for the procedures outlined in our disaster preparedness policy, and they are instructed to remain calm in the likelihood of an emergency.
For example, if we encounter a disgruntled patient, our staff will politely ask for the conversation to be moved into a private room and then alert their supervisor. The supervisor will assess the immediate threat and take proper action to contain the situation. If the situation escalates, members of the administration and local law enforcement will be contacted.
In an active shooter situation, we have adopted the RUN, HIDE, FIGHT model endorsed by the FBI. The occurrence of an active shooter is quick and unpredictable. Contacting law enforcement immediately will save lives. We teach our staff the following practices:
Recall where the two nearest exists are in the facility.
Secure the door to the room, if you are in an exam room.
Get to a room if you are in a hallway, then secure the door.
Attempt to take the shooter down as a last resort if trapped.
DermWorld: What other steps have you taken to ensure your office is relatively secure?
Dr. Crawford: To ensure the security of our offices, all exterior doors to the clinic, except for the entrance, will remain locked and only accessible by swiping a badge. All clinic visitors must present a valid identification, sign our logbook, and obtain a visitor’s pass upon arrival time.
DermWorld: What guidance do you recommend for staff in terms of how they should behave in an emergency situation?
Dr. Crawford: During an emergency, our staff is instructed to leave the building quickly and safely while assisting patients and guests as needed. If the emergency does not require an evacuation, our staff is instructed to direct patients and guests to a designated, safe location.
DermWorld: Why should physician offices institute procedures for these types of events?
Dr. Crawford: Disaster preparedness can help reduce the damage and disruptions caused by any unforeseen incident. Requiring this training at onboarding and annually reviewing with the staff is pertinent. To ensure your practice is prepared for an emergency, establishing the right policy and procedures along with consistent training of the staff can help accomplish clear communication, a swift response, and accessibility of health care services. Appropriate measures should be practiced and updated if necessary.
Kevin Crawford, MD, FAAD, is in group practice in Seymour, Indiana.
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