Continuity of Operations Planning for Health Care & Long-Term Care 

Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) is focused on health care facility recovery planning. The tools and resources on this page were developed to support COOP for health care and long-term care. This includes hospitals, long-term facilities, clinics, outpatient services, and other health care facilities. The resources on this page are intended for those in charge of developing, updating, and maintaining continuity of operations and/or business continuity at their facility or organization. 

On this page:
COOP Tool Kit
Health Care Coalition Tools
Trainings

COOP Tool Kit

The toolkit and accompanying resources were updated August 2024. 

• Continuity Completion Guide (Word)
  A planning roadmap to develop and/or revise your organization's continuity of operations (COOP) plan. 
   
• Continuity Plan Template (Word)
  An outline for your organization’s continuity of operations (COOP) Plan.
   
• Continuity of Operations Tabletop Exercise in a Box
  • Tabletop Exercise-in-a Box Situation Manual (Word)
    This document provides general information to exercise participants, including exercise objectives, scope, and the exercise scenario.
     
  • Tabletop Exercise-in-a-Box Facilitator Guide (Word)
    The Facilitator Guide describes the roles and responsibilities of the exercise facilitator and the exercise planning team. Because this handbook contains information regarding exercise administration, it is only to be distributed to those designing, facilitating, or evaluating the exercise.
     
  • Continuity Tabletop Exercise (PPT)
    A PowerPoint Presentation has been developed to help guide and facilitate the exercise. The PowerPoint presentation supplements the Situation Manual and provides participants with key information regarding the exercise.
     
  • Tabletop Exercise-in-a-Box After-Action Report/ Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) Template (Word)
    The AAR/IP is a document that includes an exercise overview, analysis of capabilities, and a list of corrective actions. The length, format, and development timeframe of the AAR/IP depend on the exercise type and scope. A template AAR/IP has been developed for this exercise. 
     
• Continuity of Operations (COOP) FAQ (PDF)
  A snapshot of COOP and what frontline staff and executive leadership roles may look like based on their position in the facility.
   
• Resource Summary Document (PDF)
  Summary of resources available to support COOP at your organization
   
• COOP for Rural Hospitals Webinars
  Links to recorded webinars that guide the organizations on how to complete the COOP toolkit, posted to the MDH YouTube page.
  • Webinar 1: How to COOP (YouTube: 9 minutes)
  • Webinar 2: COOP 101 (YouTube: 9 minutes)
  • Webinar 3: Identifying Essential Functions (YouTube: 19 minutes)
  • Webinar #4: Vital Records, IT, Human Resources and Communications (YouTube: 15 minutes)
  • Webinar 5: Facilities, Devolution, and Reconstruction (YouTube: 11 minutes)
     

Health Care Coalition Tools

• Executive Briefing (Powerpoint)
  Presentation you can personalize, defining business continuity and why it's important. 
   
• Initial Engagement Letter (Word)
  Print this letter on health coalition letter head, then send to chief executive officers or emergency managers as an initial contact about COOP. 
   
• SBAR Hospitals (Word)
  Situation, background, assessment, and recommendations describing why hospitals should be interested in business continuity. Should be personalized with your coalition name/logo. 
   
• SBAR Clinics (Word)
  Situation, background, assessment, and recommendations describing why clinics should be interested in business continuity. Should be personalized with your coalition name/logo. 
   
• SBAR Long Term Care (Word)
  Situation, background, assessment, and recommendations describing why long-term care should be interested in business continuity. Should be personalized with your coalition name/logo. 

Trainings

The COOP trainings listed below, both virtual and in-person, are offered by the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).

Virtual

• FEMA IS-1300: Introduction to Continuity Course
  This course is intended to lay the foundation of knowledge for students who wish to increase their understanding of continuity and building a comprehensive continuity program in their organization or jurisdiction. Course Length: 1 hour.
   
• FEMA IS-520: Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas
  Covers the characteristics of a pandemic influenza, the effects that a pandemic influenza can have on every facet of our society, and the steps their organizations can take to minimize the effects of a pandemic. Course Length: 1 hour.
   
• FEMA IS-545.A Reconstitution Planning  
  Instruct federal departments and agencies, state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions on the importance of developing effective and comprehensive Reconstitution Plans. Course Length: 5 hours

In-Person
The following are courses offered both virtually and in-person. The in-person courses are normally hosted by FEMA-EMI in Emmitsburg, Maryland. For in-person courses, EMI provides reimbursement for travel and board, as well as on-site lodging. Participants must apply on the FEMA-EMI website in order to attend. 

Check availability on the FEMA EMI Course Schedules website – Use search function and course number to narrow results.

• 1301 - Continuity Planning
  Help continuity practitioners understand continuity roles and responsibilities, and provide the knowledge sets, skills, and tools necessary to help develop and maintain a viable continuity plan for their organization and community. Course Length: 3 days
   
• 1302 - Continuity Program Management
  Provide continuity planners and program managers the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to help them develop a holistic continuity capability. Course Length: 3 days