Long Term Care Mutual Aid Plans (MAP) are collaborative networks of providers that maintain voluntary agreements to support each other before, during, and after a disaster. These formalized partnerships can provide a facility needing assistance with various resources such as supplies, equipment, personnel, pharmaceuticals, transportation, or even evacuation destinations when a disaster overwhelms their community or exceeds the capability of their own internal emergency preparedness program.
While MAPs are primarily made up of long term care providers, they often include other collaborative partners, including various health care organizations, governmental organizations, and community groups. After natural catastrophes, such as hurricanes, MAPs can provide critical support, helping affected facilities to recover, reopen, and provide essential care to their residents.
The key to an effective MAP is establishing the partnership before disaster strikes. MAP groups can start small. In many cases, corporate entities are structured as a MAP, where facilities under the same ownership are positioned to support each other. However, more robust plans will include facilities from different entities. Participants are typically linked by geography (e.g., a town, county or region), sometimes expanding to statewide or cross-state groups. MAP plans, and the associated agreements to support each other work best when documented and formally agreed to by the participants.
A natural path to develop a MAP is through an established Health Care Coalition. Health Care Coalitions are increasingly tasked to include all levels of the health care continuum of care. A long term care subset of these coalition members can work to address disaster support, often serving as the incipient phase of MAP development.
MAP agreements should clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations, including protocols for resource sharing, reimbursement, and liability. Comprehensive Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) should be developed and signed by all participating facilities. It is important that MAPs partner with local emergency management agencies and public health officials to ensure alignment with their disaster response plans and protocols. Effective MAPs will conduct regular training and exercises. Exercises are key to educating, testing, and ensuring the MAP’s effectiveness. Exercises should include, but not be limited to, scenarios that focus on both shelter in place and evacuation.
Collaborating with other providers through a MAP is an effective resource to complement your organization’s emergency preparedness program. Partnerships such as MAPs can mitigate the impact of a disaster, ensure continuity of operations, and support rapid recovery. Some AHCA/NCAL members participate in well-organized MAPs in various regions of the country. For more information on MAPs, email emergencyprep@ahca.org or reach out to your state affiliate.