Attached is the de-identified emPOWER data. This data is sent to MDH from the HHS Regional Emergency Coordinator. The information is different from the data you can access on your own. When you pull data off the emPOWER map the result is a lump sum of Medicare beneficiaries that use power-dependent medical equipment within a certain county or zip code. This data, while still de-identified, is broken down by equipment or service type (e.g. O2 tanks, ventilators, in-facility ESRD, etc).
New to this report: In the excel document attached you will find six tabs. The first tabs titled Menu and Data Overview give you an overview and explanation of the different equipment types, how often the data is pulled, and how the information is obtained. The third tab explains the concept of parent-child zip code mapping and shows which zip codes have parent-child relationships. It also includes aggregated state-wide data this time around which can be found in the fourth tab. The final two tabs are the data for your region.
How might you use this data? You may find that having the data broken down by equipment type can assist you with your preparedness and response planning. For instance, if you have a high concentration of people receiving home health services in a certain area, it may encourage you to more actively pursue partnerships with home health agencies covering that geographic area. Or, if you are seeing a large amount of residents who are using power-dependent equipment, such as ventilators or at-home dialysis, it may impact the way your hospitals or other response partners in that zip code plan for extended power outages.
In addition to supporting your planning efforts, sending you this information also fulfills the following HPP requirements:
HPP Performance Measure
- Part A: Percent of awardees that obtain de-identified data from emPOWER at least once every six months to identify numbers of individuals with electricity-dependent medical and assistive equipment for planning purposes.
- Part B: Percent of HCCs that obtain de-identified data from emPOWER at least once every six months to identify numbers of individuals with electricity-dependent medical and assistive equipment for planning purposes.
- Domain 1, Activity 3 of the 2017 HPP-PHEP FOA (NOFO)
- HPP awardees and HCCs must obtain de-identified data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emPOWER map every six months to identify populations with unique health care needs, such as dialysis and those with electricity-dependent medical and assistive equipment, such as ventilators and wheel chairs.
- HPP Capability 2, Objective 2, Activity 4: Assess Community Planning for Children, Pregnant Women, Seniors, Individuals with Access and Functional Needs, Including People with Disabilities, and Others with Unique Needs
- Support public health agencies with situational awareness and IT tools already in use that can help identify children; pregnant women; seniors; and individuals with access and functional needs, including people with disabilities; and others with unique needs (e.g., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emPOWER map, which provides information on Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent medical and assistive equipment, such as ventilators, at-home dialysis machines, and wheelchairs)