Healthcare Emergency Operations Plan Checklist

Record the facility name, facility type and physical location the Emergency Operations Plan covers.

Record the plan owner, the current version or revision number and the last review date.

Confirm the plan carries documented approval and a status of draft, approved or under revision.

Confirm the plan states its all-hazards scope and how it links to any wider system, network or corporate emergency plan.

Confirm a distribution list identifies who holds controlled copies and how staff reach the plan during a disruption.

Confirm the plan is based on a documented hazard vulnerability analysis that ranks likelihood and impact.

Confirm natural hazards relevant to the location, such as severe weather, flood or earthquake, are assessed.

Confirm facility-specific hazards such as utility or power failure, water loss and medical gas failure are assessed.

Confirm communications-failure and cyber-disruption scenarios are assessed alongside supply and staffing shortages.

Confirm loss of the facility or a critical care area is assessed with the planned response.

Confirm the risk assessment is reviewed on a defined cycle and after significant incidents or changes.

Confirm the plan defines the incident command structure and who is authorized to activate the response.

Confirm roles and responsibilities are assigned by position rather than by named individual.

Confirm succession and delegation of authority are documented for each key command role.

Confirm department-level responsibilities during an activation are defined and communicated.

Confirm coordination with external agencies, healthcare partners and the local emergency operations structure is described.

Confirm the plan defines how staff are notified and recalled during an emergency.

Confirm methods for communicating with patients, families and visitors are defined.

Confirm current contact details for staff, public agencies and healthcare partners are maintained.

Confirm at least one backup communication method is identified for when primary systems fail.

Confirm how information is shared with the media and the wider public is defined.

Confirm activation and stand-down procedures are documented with clear triggers.

Confirm evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures, including patient movement and relocation, are documented.

Confirm triage and patient surge procedures are defined for a sudden rise in demand.

Confirm procedures maintain critical services and track emergency supplies, equipment, medication and staffing.

Confirm procedures address safe management of the facility, utilities and access control during the event.

Confirm the plan identifies the essential clinical services that must continue through a prolonged disruption.

Confirm staffing arrangements to sustain those services, including mutual aid, are documented.

Confirm arrangements for medication, supplies and utilities needed to continue care are defined.

Confirm access to medical records and patient information is protected and available during a disruption.

Confirm the needs of vulnerable and at-risk patient populations are addressed.

Confirm staff receive documented training on their emergency roles at defined intervals.

Confirm the plan is tested through drills and exercises on a defined schedule.

Confirm each exercise is documented, including the participants, scenario and observations.

Confirm lessons learned from exercises and real events are captured.

Confirm identified gaps drive updates to the plan.

Confirm recovery responsibilities and the process to restore normal services are defined.

Record the after-action review completed after the most recent exercise or actual activation.

Confirm corrective actions are assigned to owners with due dates and tracked to closure.

Confirm the plan is revised to reflect corrective actions and changes in hazards or operations.

Record where the completed plan, exercise records and after-action reports are retained.