Training for Major Health Incidents: Developing a Training Course for Hospital-Based Health Care Workers on Preparing an Incident Action Plan

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency services, including emergency medical services organizations and hospitals in New Zealand have adopted an incident command system or coordinated incident management system (CIMS) to provide coordination and control for the emergency response to major incidents. Incident action plans (IAP) play an important role in the implementation of CIMS during major incidents. Objective: This presentation describes the development of a training course for hospital-based healthcare workers on the preparation of an IAP. Methods: Developing the training course included the following steps: (1) survey of hospital-based healthcare workers who attended joint CIMS training courses regarding their perceptions of the IAP-related needs of hospitals;(2) identification of situations in which IAPs may be required at hospitals; (3) analysis of IAP use during planned responses; and (4) customization of the IAP structure used by emergency services organization for hospitals based on hospital needs. Results: A training course for hospital-based healthcare workers about preparing an IAP was developed. In this course, participants collectively develop an lAP for hospital evacuation, critique an IAP from an actual major incident, and then, in smaller groups, prepare IAPs for specific situations. Conclusion: IAPs from emergency services response planning may be adapted for hospital emergency response. A training course for hospital-based healthcare workers about preparing an IAP may assist the development of IAPs by hospital emergency managers during actual incidents.