Develop a disaster recovery plan to reduce health disparities and improve access to community services after a disaster. Then develop a 10–12 slides presentation of the plan excluding title and references with lots of speaker notes for the local system, city officials, and the disaster relief team.
In this assessment, you will assume the role of the senior nurse at a regional hospital who has
been assigned to develop a disaster recovery plan for the community using MAP-IT and trace-
mapping, which you will present to city officials and the disaster relief team.
First review the full scenario and associated data below.
Introduction
For a health care facility to be able to fill its role in the community, it must actively plan not only
for normal operation, but also for worst-case scenarios which could occur. In such disasters, the
hospital’s services will be particularly crucial, even if the specifics of the disaster make it more
difficult for the facility to stay open.
As the senior nurse at the Smallville Regional Hospital, you play a vital role in ensuring the
hospital’s readiness for disasters and its ability to recover from them. The hospital administrator
wants to discuss disaster preparedness and recovery with you. Before the conversation, it
would be helpful to familiarize yourself with the background information on events that have
occurred in Smallville in recent years, including the involvement of the hospital.
Background
Investigate further for relevant background information.
Newspaper Headline: “Smallville Devastated by Wildfire: Rebuilding and Recovery Underway”
November 8, 2022
Smallville, CA – In a tragic turn of events, the northern California town of Smallville was ravaged
by a devastating wildfire on July 6, 2021. The fire, which quickly spread through the town,
destroyed nearly 19,000 structures and claimed the lives of 31 residents. The community is now
faced with the daunting task of rebuilding and recovering from this catastrophic event.
The fire, known as the Blaze, raced into Smallville with unprecedented speed and intensity,
leaving residents with little time to evacuate. Many were forced to flee on foot, seeking refuge in
parking lots and commercial buildings that were never intended to serve as temporary shelters
in a firestorm.
The impact of this disaster was felt particularly hard by residents of low socioeconomic status
(SES). People in poverty, with low incomes, and of low SES often face greater challenges in
recovering from disasters. The loss of homes, possessions, and livelihoods has left many in a
state of uncertainty and vulnerability.
However, amidst the devastation, there is hope. The community has come together to support
one another and begin the process of rebuilding. Local organizations, government agencies,
and volunteers have joined forces to provide assistance and resources to those affected by the
fire.
Experts studying the response to disasters like the Blaze emphasize the need for a radical
overhaul in how we prepare for and respond to such events in the era of climate change.
This includes rethinking disaster recovery strategies and implementing measures to mitigate the
impact of future disasters.
The town of Smallville is determined to rise from the ashes and rebuild stronger than ever. City
leaders are working on developing comprehensive emergency plans and evacuation standards
to ensure the safety of residents in the face of future wildfires.
The community is resilient and united in their efforts to restore their beloved town. As the
rebuilding and recovery process continues, it is crucial for the nation to learn from this tragedy
and implement measures to better prepare for and respond to disasters.
The lessons learned from the Blaze will serve as a wake-up call for communities across the
country, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning and effective disaster response
strategies
Fact Sheet: Smallville, CA
Population: 5,200
Median Household Income: $60,000
Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line: 22%
Racial/Ethnic Composition:
White: 69%
African American: 6%
Native American: 2%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10%
Other Races: 8%
Two or More Races: 5%
Additionally, there are an unknown number of undocumented migrant workers with limited
English proficiency.
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+: 84.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+: 18.5%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years: 10.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years: 12.5%
Income & Poverty
Median household income: $37,476
Per capita income in past 12 months: $20,274
Persons in poverty: 23.0%
Staff Interviews
Dr. Peter Jenski, Internal Medicine. “The impact of the fire on the residents of Smallville has
been devastating. Many of them have lost their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. The fire
has also had a significant impact on their physical and mental health.”
Bill Reiner, Social Worker: “Yes, I agree. People in low socioeconomic status groups are
particularly vulnerable to the effects of disasters like this one. They often face greater
challenges in recovering from disasters.”
Nurs
e Kaley Grant, ICU: “That’s right. The fire has increased the risk of respiratory and lung
diseases, which can be particularly harmful to people with pre-existing conditions.”
Dr. Linh Boswell, Psychiatrist: “And let’s not forget about the mental health impact. The
trauma of losing everything in a fire can be overwhelming. Many residents are experiencing
symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.”
Dr. Tom Sowka, Pharmacist: “It’s important that we provide comprehensive care to these
patients, addressing both their physical and mental health needs. We need to work together to
ensure that they receive the care and resources they need to recover from this disaster.”
Dr. Luisa Gonzalez, Hospital Administrator: ” I couldn’t agree more. We need to work
together as a medical community to support the affected residents and implement
comprehensive emergency plans and evacuation standards to mitigate the impact of future
disasters. We can learn from previous disasters and use those lessons to better prepare for
future events.”
Request from Administrator
Dr. Luisa Gonzalez, Smallville Hospital Administrator, has asked you to present a compelling
case to community stakeholders for the proposed disaster recovery plan. She requests you use
the MAP-IT model, which is a step-by-step, structured plan that can be developed by a coalition
that is tailored to a specific community’s needs.
The MAP-IT model involves all stakeholders, making for a widely-supported and community-
owned effort. It assesses assets as well as needs and looks for ways to use them.
The five steps of the MAP-IT model are:
1. Mobilize individuals and organizations that care about the health of your community into
a coalition.
2. Assess the areas of greatest need in your community, as well as the resources and
other strengths that you can tap into to address those areas.
3. Plan your approach: start with a vision of where you want to be as a community; then
add strategies and action steps to help you achieve that vision.
4. Implement your plan using concrete action steps that can be monitored and will make a
difference.
5. Track your progress over time.
In addition to using the MAP-IT model, work up an approach supported by Healthy People 2020
and put it all into a PowerPoint. By doing this, you can create a prototype for other local communities near this one, and possibly other facilities in the organization. To ensure that the disaster recovery plan is effective, you can also involve diverse stakeholders, replace guesswork and hunches with data- driven decisions, and create comprehensive, detailed plans that define the roles and responsibilities of disaster recovery team members and outline the criteria to launch the plan into action.
Supporting Evidence
Cite at least three credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or professional industry publications within the past 5 years to support your plan with reference.
Disaster Recovery Plan Guide:
· Provides a concise, accurate description of the determinants of health and the cultural, social, and economic barriers that impact safety, health, and disaster recovery efforts in a community. Clearly describes the interrelationships among these factors.
· Explains how a proposed disaster recovery plan will lessen health disparities and improve access to community services. Provides clear insight into how principles of social justice and cultural sensitivity help to ensure health equity for individuals, families, and aggregates in the community
· Explains how health and governmental policy impact disaster recovery efforts. Articulates the logical policy implications for community members linked to specific policy provisions.
· Presents specific, evidence-based strategies to overcome communication barriers and enhance interprofessional collaboration to improve disaster recovery efforts that are well-supported by with relevant and credible evidence. Articulates the implications and potential consequences of proposed strategies.
· Organizes content with clear purpose/goals. Power point slides support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and evidence-based
· Slides are easy to read and error free. Detailed speaker notes are provided.
· Adhere to scholarly and disciplinary writing standards and APA formatting requirements
