AM40 - Comment - Concerned Citizen

I support the rule changes. In times of disaster, we need all of the assistance available. I urge you to seek enough FUNDING for your current programs, as well as for the additional care you would provide during a disaster. You need to make sure that you have enough staff and supplies to actually provide the care. You also need to have a proper system set in place to keep track and capture information on everyone you provide care for. You should also have a way to send the medical information you gather and generate to the person once they are evacuated either out to a safe area, or to another hospital --it should be added to the electronic health records that everyone is supposed to have. You need to differentiate between the different eligibilities, as well as be able to bill the different insurance companies for reimbursement. You also need to make sure that you actually know the other emergency care providers who you will be working with, so you should be setting up contact with local police, fire, Red Cross, and other hospitals, and will be notified in a timely manner so that you are not surprised by a deluge of people. You should also hold drills to practice for large emergencies, and have policies and procedures in place IN ADVANCE so that everyone knows what to do. Since you have been closing down big hospitals in favor of smaller clinics, you need to take that into consideration. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to establish regulations regarding the provision of hospital care and medical services under the VA Emergency Preparedness Act of 2002 to individuals responding to, involved in, or otherwise affected by certain disasters or emergencies (including individuals who otherwise do not have VA eligibility for such care and services).