This federal emergency preparedness regulation requires facilities to develop and maintain a communication plan that includes both primary and alternate means of communicating with facility staff and Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies. The plan must be reviewed and updated at least every two years (annually for long-term care facilities). Facilities have discretion in selecting alternate communication systems (e.g., cellular phones, pagers, walkie-talkies, HAM radio, satellite phones) but must ensure compatibility with the systems used by other agencies they plan to coordinate with during emergencies. Surveyors will verify the plan's contents and inspect the listed communications equipment.
View official sourceE-0032 (Rev. 204, Issued: 04-16-21; Effective: 04-16-21, Implementation: 04-16-21) §403.748(c)(3), §416.54(c)(3), §418.113(c)(3), §441.184(c)(3), §460.84(c)(3), §482.15(c)(3), §483.73(c)(3), §483.475(c)(3), §484.102(c)(3), §485.68(c)(3), §485.625(c)(3), §485.727(c)(3), §485.920(c)(3), §486.360(c)(3), §491.12(c)(3), §494.62(c)(3). [(c) The [facility] must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness communication plan that complies with Federal, State and local laws and must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years [annually for LTC facilities]. The communication plan must include all of the following: (3) Primary and alternate means for communicating with the following: (i) [Facility] staff. (ii) Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies. *[For ICF/IIDs at §483.475(c):] (3) Primary and alternate means for communicating with the ICF/IID’s staff, Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies. Interpretive Guidelines applies to: §403.748(c)(3), §416.54(c)(3), §418.113(c)(3), §441.184(c)(3), §460.84(c)(3), §482.15(c)(3), §483.73(c)(3), §483.475(c)(3), §484.102(c)(3), §485.68(c)(3), §485.625(c)(3), §485.727(c)(3), §485.920(c)(3), §486.360(c)(3), §491.12(c)(3), §494.62(c)(3). NOTE: This does not apply to Transplant Programs. Facilities are required to have primary and alternate means of communicating with staff, Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies. Facilities have the discretion to utilize alternate communication systems that best meets their needs. However, it is expected that facilities would consider pagers, cellular telephones, radio transceivers (that is, walkie-talkies), and various other radio devices such as the NOAA Weather Radio and Amateur Radio Operators’ (HAM Radio) systems, as well as satellite telephone communications systems. We recognize that some facilities, especially in remote areas, may have difficulty using some communication systems, such as cellular phones, even in non-emergency situations, which should be outlined within their risk assessment and addressed within the communications plan. It is expected these facilities would address such challenges when establishing and maintaining a well-designed communication system that will function during an emergency. The communication plan should include procedures regarding when and how alternate communication methods are used, and who uses them. In addition the facility should ensure that its selected alternative means of communication is compatible with communication systems of other facilities, agencies and state and local officials it plans to communicate with during emergencies. For example, if State X local emergency officials use the SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio program and facility Y is trying to communicate with RACES, it may be prudent to consider if these two alternate communication systems can communicate on the same frequencies. Facilities should identify their primary and alternate means of communication in their emergency preparedness communication plan. For instance, a primary means of communication may be cellular phones, hard wire lines and the facilities intercom system, whereas the facilities alternate means (given interruption of primary means) may be the SHAred RESources. Facilities may seek information about the National Communication System (NCS), which offers a wide range of National Security and Emergency Preparedness communications services, the Government Emergency Telecommunications Services (GETS), the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program, Wireless Priority Service (WPS), and SHARES. Other communication methods could include, but are not limited to, satellite phones, radio, and short wave radio. The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) is an integral part of emergency management operations. Survey Procedures • Verify the communication plan includes primary and alternate means for communicating with facility staff, Federal, State, tribal, regional and local emergency management agencies by reviewing the communication plan. • Ask to see the communications equipment or communication systems listed in the plan.