HOSPITALS
Elevating Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Exercises with Realistic Patient Simulation
Natural and manmade disasters frequently result in significant healthcare impacts, including patient surges and hospital evacuations. These disasters create a need for robust healthcare emergency management (HEM) exercises, a priority reinforced by the Joint Commission’s accreditation standards, which require hospitals to regularly conduct full-scale emergency exercises. Nevertheless, many emergency management departments continue to struggle with personnel and budgetary constraints, as their value is often overlooked until disaster strikes. As such, HEM practice can often be…
Most Recent
Back to the Basics: Navigating Crisis Leadership
Andrew Pence
February 19, 2025
From historic catastrophes to today’s challenges, crises pose significant public threats. By returning to the basics and prioritizing deliberate preparation, organizational leaders can build greater resilience, enhance performance, and lead effectively when it matters most.
U.S. Withdrawal from the World Health Organization: Emergency Preparedness Implications
Tanya M. Scherr
February 12, 2025
As the U.S. contemplates withdrawing its membership from the World Health Organization, there are potential impacts on both local and global emergency preparedness and response to consider. Emergency managers should evaluate their current programs to determine ramifications in their local sectors.
Nonmedical Concerns for Hospitals in a Mass-Casualty Incident
Joanmarie Verrico Wallster and Michael Prasad
January 22, 2025
Nonmedical concerns such as security and safety, unaccompanied minors, and governmental relations can adversely impact a hospital when responding to a mass-casualty incident. Failure to plan for these issues, including consequence management, could risk life and safety.
The Current State of the Opioid Crisis & Other Emerging Threats
John Johnson
January 22, 2025
Opioid deaths have surged dramatically since the pandemic. Manufacturers exploit legal loopholes and use precursor chemicals that often evade detection and regulation. These new and growing threats present challenges to public safety that demand innovative solutions and a proactive approach.
Hospitals Archives
National Laboratory Partnerships: Linking Operations and Research
Ryan Eddy and Ann Lesperance
September 25, 2024
The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 spurred a pivotal change in the way the U.S. approaches preparedness for threats to the homeland. In recognition
Responder Fatigue: A Growing Concern
Dan Scherr and Tanya M. Scherr
September 18, 2024
Emergencies require immediate action by people trained to extinguish fires, treat injuries, protect the public, and perform other life and safety tasks. Responders who repeatedly
AI and 911 Call Systems: A New Ally or a Hidden Risk?
Michael Breslin
September 11, 2024
From natural disasters to sophisticated cyberthreats, the risks to public safety are evolving fast. As unexpected events can strike at any moment, the systems designed
Vulnerability and Exploitation: Human Trafficking After Natural Disasters
Benjamin Thomas Greer and Nathan DiPillo
August 28, 2024
Disasters inherently come with known and unknown threats. One looming emerging threat is human trafficking because traffickers capitalize on the vulnerability these events create to
Dual-World Tabletop Exercises: Addressing Unmet Infrastructure Needs
Charles (Chuck) L. Manto
August 21, 2024
The U.S. critical infrastructure is vulnerable to many forms of cyber and electromagnetic threats. This article presents a new tabletop exercise concept for addressing these
Return on Investments in Public Engagement
June Isaacson Kailes
August 14, 2024
Public engagement and participation involve community members in problem-solving, decision-making, and policy development. This article shares some new practices for creating actionable opportunities for key
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HOSPITALS
Elevating Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Exercises with Realistic Patient Simulation
Natural and manmade disasters frequently result in significant healthcare impacts, including patient surges and hospital evacuations. These disasters create a need for robust healthcare emergency management (HEM) exercises, a priority reinforced by the Joint Commission’s accreditation standards, which require hospitals to regularly conduct full-scale emergency exercises. Nevertheless, many emergency management departments continue to struggle with personnel and budgetary constraints, as their value is often overlooked until disaster strikes. As such, HEM practice can often be…
Most Recent
Preparing for the Next Biothreat: Lessons Not to Forget
Christy Anderson
January 15, 2025
In 2024, senior officials from hospitals, healthcare organizations, public health, emergency management, and other responder communities convened at two workshops
Mission Ready Packages: New Possibilities
Kay C. Goss
January 15, 2025
In 2005, the Superdome in New Orleans served as a mass shelter and accommodated over 25,000 people during Hurricane Katrina.
Growing Foreign Threats to National Security, Part 2: Emergency Management Approaches and Choices
Glen Woodbury
October 30, 2024
This is Part 2 of a two-part article that explores the nation-state threat and its implications for the emergency management
Growing Foreign Threats to National Security, Part 1: Challenges and Considerations
Glen Woodbury
October 23, 2024
Part 1 of a two-part series explores the nation-state threat and its implications for the emergency management community, regarding the
Hospitals Archives
Jane Doe – Responding to Vulnerable Patients
Catherine L. Feinman
June 26, 2024
Despite the prevalence of first responders encountering human trafficking victims, they are not always aware of the signs or proper handling of the situation to
A Modern Take on an Age-Old Biological Weapon
Raphael M. Barishansky
June 12, 2024
Reports about North Korea launching balloons filled with fecal matter and propaganda into South Korean territory were intriguing. However, this incident raises public health concerns
Shielding Communities: Public Health Strategies for Natural Hazards
Raphael M. Barishansky and Andrew D. Pickett
May 15, 2024
Public health risks are common concerns when natural hazards occur. However, history shows that the increasing frequency of events and growing population sizes have been
Primary Care Investments to Increase Community Resilience
Angie Im
April 17, 2024
Community health centers are medical lifelines for millions of Americans. However, financial constraints and healthcare workforce challenges strain these critical resources. New initiatives and additional
Mental Awareness to Enhance Preparedness
Andrew (Andy) Altizer
April 17, 2024
Emergency managers, public health officials, and first responders often stress the importance of physical fitness, but what about mental fitness? Without focused mental agility in
Dungeons and Disasters: Gamification of Public Health Responses
Michael Etzel and Michael Prasad
April 10, 2024
New technologies offer new ways to train personnel and exercise public health responses like COVID-19 and prepare response agencies for many other threats and hazards.
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