Incident Command System for Hospitals

1
Incident Command System for Hospitals
Awareness
Emergency Management Department Emergency
Management Leadership Task Force Revised
January, 2009
2
Objectives

1. Increase awareness of the Incident Command System
   in hospitals.
2. Understand reasons why we use the Incident
   Command System.
3. Name the management functions of the Incident
   Command System.
4. Identify when the Incident Command System is used.

3
Introduction - to the Incident Command System
(ICS)

• The Incident Command System (ICS) is a
  structured system to manage all emergencies.
• It is used to assist hospital operations during
  a time of crisis.

ICS provides a means of organizing and using
staff, resources and communications.
4
Introduction - to the ICS continued
The DMC has adopted an Incident Command System
(ICS) to manage all emergency situations that may
occur in our hospitals and facilities.
5
Why Use ICS
Why does the DMC use the Incident Command System?
ICS provides for. . .
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Chain of Command

• Dependable -
• Chain of Command
• Orderly -
• Ranking of management positions
• Clear -
• Lines of authority and supervision

7
Communications
Because the Incident Command System is used by
police and fire departments, ICS provides us with
a common management system for communicating with
response agencies.
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History of the Incident Command System

• In the 1980's local, State and Federal agencies
  worked together to develop a common
  organizational system which fire protection
  agencies could use in response to a very large
  event, as well as smaller day-to-day events. This
  process, known as FIRESCOPE is utilized by most
  fire departments in the country.
• The DMC Incident Command System (ICS)
  incorporates many elements of FIRESCOPE.

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Applications of ICS When Is It Used

• Incident Command can be applied in a wide variety
  of emergency and non-emergency situations such
  as
• Tornados
• Mass casualty incidents, such as a plane crash
• Fire
• Bomb threats
• HAZMAT spills
• Acts of domestic terrorism
• It can also be used in large planned events, like
  the Detroit Auto Show.

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Five Primary ICS Management Functions
Logistics
Operations
Command
Planning
Finance
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The Organizational Chart
The organizational chart represents lines of
authority and communication.
Command Staff
Management Team
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Incident Commander

• Has overall responsibility

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Command Function

• Anticipate, detect, and correct unsafe situations
• Has emergency authority to stop unsafe acts

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Command Function - continued

• Central point for information dissemination

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Command Function - continued

• Contact point for representatives of assisting
  and cooperating agencies

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Logistics Function
.

• Maintains levels of
• Food, Shelter and Supplies to
• support the medical objectives

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Planning Function

• Prepares Action Plan and Situation Status
• Information collection, evaluation, distribution

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Finance Function

• Tracks all costs
• Arranges for staff and resources and monitors
  their use

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Operations Function

• Coordinates and manages operations
• Plans and projects patient care needs

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Organizational Structure
Depending on the size and type of incident or
event, additional positions can be added under
each section as needed.
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Job Action Sheets

• Job Action Sheets consist of a checklist of tasks
  that the assigned person will perform. This
  makes it easy for anyone to assume that role and
  perform the necessary duties.
• The Job Action Sheets are found in the Emergency
  Command Center.
• Job Action Sheets are distributed by the Incident
  Commander or Section Chief and immediate
  supervisors.

22
Job Action Sheets - continued

• Each of the positions found on the organizational
  chart has a prioritized Job Action Sheet written
  to describe the important duties of each role.

• Every Job Action Sheet begins with the job title,
  the supervising officer and a mission statement
  to define the position responsibility.

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Crosswalk Job Titles

• Job titles in ICS are matched, or cross-walked,
  to the most similar position in the hospital.
  Staff assume a position in the ICS that is
  similar to their usual job.
• For example, the position of Facility Unit Leader
  could be filled by the DMC position of Site
  Manager, Facility Services. Incident Commander
  may be filled by the Hospital President, if
  available.

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Crosswalk Job Titles - continued


DMC Director, Food Nutrition Services
Nutritional Supply Unit Leader
Position Assigned to You Report to

Triage Unit Leader
Mission Sort casualties according to Priority
of injuries and assure their Disposition to the
proper treatment Area. Immediate Establish
patient Triage Area consult with Transportation
Unit Leader to designate the ambulance
Off-loading area. Assist the In-patient Area
Supervisor With triage of internal hospital
patients If requested by Treatment Areas
Supervisor. Intermediate
Mission Organize food and water stores for
preparation and rationing during periods of
anticipated or actual shortage. Immediate
Estimate the number of meals which can be served
utilizing existing food stores implement
rationing, if situation dictates. Intermediate
Extended


DMC Emergency Department Triage RN
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Flexibility of Response
A disaster that occurs when staff is at a
minimum, such as in the early AM hours, would
only allow minimum activation of the ICS.
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Flexibility of Response - continued
A larger incident or when more staff is available
would allow for more staff to be involved in the
incident.
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Flexibility of Response - continued
A person might be required to perform more than
one job until more staff arrives.
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Documentation Forms
Standardized documentation forms assist in the
documentation of all activities,
ICS Action Plan
1. 2. 3.
Patient Tracking Sheet
Activity Log
and help with financial tracking and resource
recovery.
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DMC Incident Command System Summary
The DMC has adopted the Incident Command System
because it provides for

• Clear lines of authority and supervision and
• Improved communication with other agencies, like
  fire, EMS and police.

30
ICS Summary - continued

• Important features of the Incident Command System
  include
• The Organizational Chart
• Job Action Sheets
• Documentation Forms
• Incident Command System provides for
• Flexibility in response based on the size of the
  event.
• Job titles that will closely match your usual
  job.

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Your Role in the DMC ICS

• The success of our response to a disaster is
  dependent on each individual playing their role.
• Information on the DMC Incident Command System
  can be found in your Environment of Care Manual,
  Policy EC 42.
• Information on your specific roles/responsibilitie
  s can be found in your sites emergency plans
  also located in the Environment of Care Manual.
• Contact your site safety officer if you have any
  questions.

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