Both announced and unannounced emergency exercises have value. Announced exercises are helpful in ensuring that the staff and facility understand what to do when an emergency event occurs. Unannounced exercises are helpful in testing the effectiveness and preparedness of the staff and the facility for an emergency event. Both are important in understanding where the laboratory, the staff, and the facility can improve their emergency plans, policies and procedures, and communication plans.
Whether the exercise is announced or not, patient care should not be negatively impacted by the exercise. Patient care should be coordinated with the exercise such that it will continue seamlessly.
