No-cost disaster resilience assessments for Georgia’s rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient hospice facilities.
About the Assessment Eligibility Requirements FAQs
Overview
When disasters strike, rural healthcare facilities must be prepared to continue caring for patients, residents, and communities.
The University of Georgia Institute for Disaster Management, in partnership with Georgia’s Department of Community Health, launched the Rural Healthcare Facility Resilience Program (RHFRP) to help strengthen the disaster resilience of rural healthcare facilities across Georgia.
The program supports rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and inpatient hospice facilities by helping improve shelter-in-place capabilities, expand evacuee-receiving capacity, and identify infrastructure needs before emergencies occur.
RHFRP is part of Georgia’s Rural Health Transformation Program (GREAT Health Program), a statewide initiative investing in the long-term resilience of rural healthcare systems.
What Facilities Receive
Eligible facilities receive a no-cost assessment focused on infrastructure resilience and continuity of operations during disasters.
Assessments may include evaluation of:
- Electrical infrastructure and power systems
- Generator readiness and backup power distribution
- HVAC performance
- Roof conditions
- Structural vulnerabilities
- Environmental hazards and site risks
Following the assessment, facilities receive a detailed, actionable report identifying vulnerabilities, recommended improvements, and potential resilience investments.
The Process
We will be reaching out to eligible facilities to schedule their assessment on a rolling basis.
Important Information
- Assessments are not regulatory surveys
- Assessments are not tied to state or federal inspections
- Participation is designed to support facilities, not penalize them
- Grant application technical assistance will be available
Opportunity to Cure
The purpose of the assessment is to identify opportunities for improvement and investment in the facility infrastructure. As such, no surveyors from the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD) will be involved in the assessment process. However, in the event that serious concerns are identified during the assessment process that may indicate potential significant violations of state or federal emergency preparedness regulations, the assessment team may refer the matter to HFRD for review and HFRD or the State Fire Marshal may conduct a survey inspection. Should any deficiency or violation be substantiated by the survey, the facility should receive notice and an opportunity to cure any deficiency or violation. Any resulting enforcement action taken by HFRD or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be handled in a manner consistent with state and federal regulations.
