Hopkins Weather Policy Winter 2006-2007
Dr. Miller's letter regarding the Weather Policy The information below outlines Hopkins’ weather emergency policies for The Johns Hopkins Hospital, outpatient facilities and health centers, and the University. Because supervisors in each unit/department define their own staffing requirements and procedures, be sure to check with your supervisor about specific responsibilities and what to do in case you work overtime or miss work during a weather emergency. HOSPITAL/HEALTH SYSTEM/SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Our hospitals maintain their patient care responsibilities and do not close during a weather emergency. On-site staff must remain on duty until new staff arrive. Depending on weather severity, supervisors may keep staff already on site. When necessary, non-clinical staff may be asked to help maintain control center functions and to assist with patient care. Outpatient Facilities The following guidelines, developed in order to minimize confusion about which clinics will be open during inclement weather, apply to all clinic employees, both University and Hospital/Health System, at the following Johns Hopkins Medicine outpatient facilities and health centers:
The Oncology Clinics (medical and radiation oncology, at both East Baltimore and Green Spring Station locations, and the Bone Marrow Transplant IPOP Clinic) NEVER close due to weather emergencies. If the clinics are closed, it will be communicated to the media and the Weather Hotline (see box above left) and through a phone tree to each affiliate. Clinic Managers Clinic managers should define those employees necessary to maintain clinical care operations. Obtain all necessary phone numbers to contact employees. Clearly communicate who is expected to come to work during a weather emergency (see letter from Dr. Miller).
JHCP Clinics Johns Hopkins Community Physicians employees will be notified about late openings and site closures through the established telephone tree. Weather information also will be provided on the JHCP Web site. Information specific to JHU, JHH and JHBMC should be ignored. For pay guidelines, consult your HR manual. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center In the event of snow, employees are expected to report to work. Howard County General Hospital In the event of snow, employees at Howard County General Hospital should call 410-746-SNOW to determine the status of the weather emergency plan. UNIVERSITY (NON-CLINICAL) When there is an alteration or curtailment of the university operating schedule or the operating schedule of a designated unit, an official announcement will be made on the University Emergency Telephone Hotline (see box above left) and Web site. The phone line can accommodate hundreds, even thousands, of calls an hour. Information is available as soon as a decision regarding closures or delayed openings is made, normally about 6 a.m. Decisions on evening classes for part-time students are usually made by 1 p.m. When conditions warrant, the president of the university or a designee (normally the provost), in consultation with the vice president for human resources, will decide whether and when to alter or curtail operations. When operations are altered or curtailed, one of the following plans will be in effect: Required Attendance Plan When the required attendance plan is invoked, required attendance employees must remain at work or report to work. A required attendance employee is one who is vital to the operation of a work group, whose presence is required regardless of the existence of an emergency condition and allows the continuation of critical services. A required attendance employee protects the safety and well-being of the university population and/or physical plant, and supports necessary timely work. Required attendance employees who fail to remain at or report to work may be considered absent without approval pending discussion with their supervisor. Each unit or department defines its own staffing requirements. Supervisors should designate in writing required attendance employees.Liberal Leave Plan When the liberal leave plan is invoked, all required attendance employees must report to and/or remain at work; other staff are permitted to arrive up to two hours after their normal scheduled start time or may choose not to report to work. Employees not reporting to work should follow department procedures to report absence. Time will be charged to vacation leave, if available; otherwise, to unpaid leave. Employees who report to work within two hours of the normal start time will not experience a loss of pay or have time charged to leave.Delayed Arrival Plan When the delayed arrival plan is invoked, all required attendance employees are to report to work at the regularly scheduled start time. Other staff are expected to report to work by the time designated for the delayed opening. Staff reporting by the designated time will not lose pay or have time charged to leave. The university’s policy on weather related closings can be found online. |
Hopkins Weather Updates
