Emergency Management

The International Board for Certification of Safety Managers developed the Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) credential in 2008. The board believes that CHEP personnel can help to standardize management and system principles in the field of emergency planning, response, mitigation, and recovery. CHEP personnel working in healthcare facilities can lead the way by promoting healthcare emergency management as a true profession. Many of the CHEP credentialed individuals working in nonclinical and support areas understand the importance of coordinating healthcare emergency planning efforts. We can define an emergency as an unexpected or sudden event that significantly disrupts a healthcare organization’s ability to provide care or significantly changes or increases the demand for services. Emergencies can result from human-made or natural events or a combination of both. A disaster-type emergency due to its complexity, scope, or duration can threaten the organization’s capabilities. These events can require outside assistance to sustain patient care activities and facility safety or security. Healthcare organizations need to engage in planning activities to prepare a comprehensive emergency operation plan (EOP).