Home-Based Primary Care’s Role in Supporting the Older Old During Wildfires:

Objectives: There is limited understanding of how Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) programs support their medically complex patients in event of a disaster. This study aimed to identify emergency preparedness protocols and procedures undertaken in advance of and due to the 2017 Northern California wildfires by staff of the Veterans Health Administration (VA) HBPC programs. Methods: This study examines the experiences and responses of two VA HBPC programs to the 2017 Northern California wildfires. Six phone interviews were conducted from July to August 2018. The interview protocol addressed agency preparedness policies and procedures, continuity of care after the wildfires, as well as facilitators and barriers to disaster response. Results: The total patient census of participating HBPC programs was 300. Neither HBPC program reported a loss of life due to the wildfires. Early patient preparedness, effective leadership support, and strength of program operating procedures emerged as key factors to effective r...