Module 2 - Response | Assess the situation
Once you have recognised a possible disaster, your Emergency Coordinator, Committee, or other designated team members(s) should, where possible, attend any available community briefings to assess risk to the practice team, your physical practice, your patients and the wider community.
A designated team member should also regularly check your state or territory’s emergency service’s website for up-to-date information about the anticipated degree of impact. The relevant service will determine if there is a need to evacuate.
Team members with emergency apps downloaded to their personal devices should enable notifications and ensure they are monitoring the situation.
Questions to consider after receiving notification of a possible emergency or disaster
- What is actually happening? Do you have a clear understanding of the situation at hand?
- Is it safe to remain at the practice, or do you need to evacuate/relocate?
- What resources do you have immediately available? This includes people, skills and equipment.
- What resources are missing that will be of help to you? How do access them in a timely manner and what will you use in the meantime?
- Has the practice team been updated with the latest information?
Activate your emergency response plan
Based on the occurrence and recognition of one or more of your emergency response plan activation triggers and/or information provided by the relevant emergency service, your Emergency Coordinator, Committee or other designated team member(s) should activate your practice’s emergency response plan.
Responding to cyber security incidents
The RACGP’s Responding to a cyber security incident fact sheet provides advice on what signs to look out for, types of common cyber security incidences and how to prepare, prevent and respond to such incidences.