About Emergency Preparedness
It’s time to change the way California thinks about disaster response. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that hospitals can quickly mobilize to provide flexible approaches to patient care during a disaster. The state must draw upon these lessons to prepare differently so the next crisis will be less severe. Given California’s size and complexity, the health care disaster response system of the future must be nimble enough to respond to any catastrophe. View more information on hospital disaster preparedness.
Active Shooter Event Response: Interactive Tabletop Exercise
Developed by UC San Diego Health System, this interactive tabletop exercise aims to enhance hospital preparedness for potential active shooter incidents. The exercise engages participants in a realistic scenario that promotes strategic discussions and decision-making regarding roles, communication strategies, and response protocols. Outcomes include building collaboration among various departments, highlighting the importance of coordinated responses […]
AHRQ Tool for Evaluating Core Elements of Hospital Drills
Hospitals must be prepared to respond to public health emergencies that may create a sudden demand on services. Disaster drills allow hospitals to test response capabilities to these emergencies in real time.
Hospital Drill & Exercise Requirements
Hospitals are required to conduct drills and exercises for accreditation and/or grant requirement(s).
Types of Exercises
There are 7 types of exercises. Exercises are either discussion based, or operations-based. Discussions-based exercises familiarize participants with current plans, policies, agreements and procedures, or may be used to develop new plans, policies, agreements, and procedures.
ShakeOut
ShakeOut is an annual earthquake drill and preparedness activity that promotes earthquake preparedness and safety. Originating in Southern California in 2008, ShakeOut has since expanded to other regions and countries around the world.
CalOES State Exercise Program
First implemented in 2004, Cal OES’ annual state-level exercise series has become the most comprehensive preparedness exercise program in the country. The annual exercise series is designed to assess emergency operations plans, policies, and procedures for all-hazards/catastrophic incidents at the local, regional, state, and federal levels.
CHA Checklist: Developing a Hospital Preparedness Exercise Program
This tool was was developed by the CHA Hospital Preparedness Program to assist hospitals in developing, implementing, and assessing their preparedness exercises.
Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program
The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) is a capabilities and performance-based exercise program that provides a standardized methodology and terminology for exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning.
California Statewide Medical and Health Exercise
CHA Checklist: Shelter-in-Place
CHA developed the attached the Shelter-In-Place Planning Checklist, which includes a decision-making algorithm for shelter-in-place and evacuation activation and may be used to assist hospitals with developing, reviewing, or updating their plans. The checklist is intended to help hospitals ensure that elements listed have been addressed in their plans, policies, and procedures.