Moving from documenting recommendations to implementing changes in policies and procedures is the purpose of an emergency exercise. The goal of enhancing an emergency response process does not come without actual changes being made. Below are some examples of changes laboratories have made to their emergency plans:
- Initiating a defined administrator on call 24/7 for the department
- Scheduling a review and test of the fan-out communications list quarterly
- Creating a "mini" blood bank laboratory in another building
- Signing a written agreement with another local laboratory to perform testing in the event of an on-site emergency event that prevents the use of some or all of the laboratory
- Evaluating supply levels to ensure a five-day supply was available on-site
- Working with other laboratory section managers to define tasks that could be done without or with only minimal competency assessment requirements
- Ensuring all staff members could find critical locations in the facility
- Having facility maps at the ready
