Courses
This course was developed as an introduction to the Hospital Incident Command System.
Course Description
This 4.5 hour course provides an overview of the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and the operation of the Hospital Command Center (HCC) during emergencies. The course includes hands-on training and use of HICS forms and tools.
The course prepares all levels of hospital management to meet the following:
- Joint Commission Standard EM.01.01.01, EP 7: The hospital’s incident command structure is integrated and consistent with its community’s command structure.
- NIMS Compliance Objective #7: Demonstrated the use of NIMS principles and ICS Management structure in training and exercises.
Download Course Materials from Right Sidebar:
The course materials and handouts have been developed for training purposes only; by accessing these documents, you agree not to share, distribute, transmit or reproduce without prior written consent of California Hospital Association. No part of this course or related materials shall be copied or utilized for monetary gain.
Course Description
This 2.5 hour course was developed to provide instruction specific to hospital incident action plan development.
The topics of this course are also covered within the “HICS Basics” course, however this session focuses primarily on the topic of incident action planning.
Part 1 Objectives:
- Describing the 9 steps of Incident Action Planning.
- Identifing the components of an Incident Action Plan
Part 2 Objectives:
- Demonstrating the Incident Action Planning Process
- Demonstrating the use of Hospital Incident Command System forms
- Implementing the use of the Incident Response Guides
This course is intended for middle‐ to upper‐management level personnel, or individuals who are likely to perform in one of the HICS roles.Prerequisites: “HICS Basics” course completion, or basic knowledge of HICS.
Download Course Materials from Right Sidebar
The course materials and handouts have been developed for training purposes only; by accessing these documents, you agree not to share, distribute, transmit or reproduce without prior written consent of CHA. No part of this course or related materials are to be copied or used in any way for monetary gain.
General Information
Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) is a standardized approach to incident management tailored specifically for hospitals and healthcare organizations. HICS assists institutions improve their emergency management planning, response, and recovery capabilities for both unplanned events, like natural disasters or health emergencies, and planned events.
The system is based on the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS), which was originally developed for managing wildland fires in California during the 1970s. HICS adapts these principles to the healthcare environment, providing a framework that allows hospitals to respond quickly and effectively to various incidents.
The key elements of HICS include:
- Developing a command structure that can be scaled to fit the needs of the incident
- Integrating personnel from different parts of the hospital and outside agencies into the command structure
- Identifying needs and establishing objectives to resolve the incident
- Developing strategies to achieve the objectives
- Providing support and direction to those responsible for carrying out the objectives (the tactical response)
HICS is commonly used in the US, particularly after the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which incorporates ICS and is essential for hospitals to manage large-scale incidents efficiently and ensure the safety and well-being of patients, staff, and visitors during emergencies.
Learn More:
Updated in 2014, the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) has introduced several notable changes to enhance its functionality and effectiveness. Some of the key updates include:
- Mechanism to indicate pending XOSC help desk cases: This feature likely helps in tracking and managing ongoing support issues, ensuring that they are addressed in a timely manner
- Stand-alone application ID field: The inclusion of a unique identifier for applications can streamline processes and improve the organization of records
- Identifier for when new information has been added to an existing case: This change probably aids in maintaining the accuracy and currency of case information, allowing for better tracking of updates
- Mass upload feature to allow bulk closures: This functionality is likely intended to improve efficiency by enabling the closure of multiple cases simultaneously
- Navigation and search improvements: Enhancements to the user interface and search capabilities can facilitate easier access to information and improve the overall user experience
- Updated User Guide: An updated manual can provide clearer instructions and reflect the latest changes, ensuring that users can effectively utilize the system
These changes reflect a commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation of the HICS to meet the evolving needs of healthcare organizations in emergency management.
HICS 203 Organization Assignment List
HICS 207 Hospital Incident Management Team (HIMT) Chart
HICS 215A Incident Action Plan (IAP) Safety Analysis
HICS 221 Demobilization Check-Out
HICS 251 Facility System Status Report
HICS 252 Section Personnel Time Sheet
HICS 253 Volunteer Registration
HICS 254 Disaster Victim/Patient Tracking
HICS 255 Master Patient Evacuation Tracking
HICS 256 Procurement Summary Report
HICS 257 Resource Accounting Record
HICS 258 Hospital Resource Directory
Psychological Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment
Psychological Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment: Provides methods to link mental health to disaster system of care, mental health triage tag, IT, and ICS/HICS compliant job action sheets.
The “Disaster Response Using HICS: An Introduction for Physicians” video was provided courtesy of Stanford Hospital and Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at the 2011 Disaster Planning for California Hospitals conference.
The Incident Action Plan contains objectives reflecting the overall incident strategy and specific tactical actions and supporting information for the next operational period. The hospital’s IAP, at a minimum, is generally made up of the following forms:
- 200: IAP Cover Sheet
- 201: Incident Briefing
- 202: Incident Objectives
- 203: Organizational Assignments
- 204: Branch Assignment List
- 215A: Incident Action Plan (IAP) Safety Analysis
- IAP Quick Start (combines forms 201, 202, 203, 204, and 215A)
The IAP may also have a number of other forms as attachments such as Traffic Plans, etc. Element 12 of NIMS Compliance for Healthcare states that hospitals utilize IAPs for all incidents and exercises along with the plans to communicate through the ICS chain-of-command. The Joint Commission’s EM 01.01.01 requires an ICS that is integrated into, and is consistent with, its community’s command structure.
- The HICSi Role Table Tents can be used during actual events or for exercises. They identify the name of each person filling the top nine roles.
- The tent cards act as a reminder of the Incident Action Planning Process and assist with completion of the appropriate forms.
- When it comes to completing The Joint Commission table top survey, TJC states that they want name plates/table tents with the role and name of person in the table top. This will also provide those personnel with a reminder on the role of that position and the Incident Action Planning Process.
Attached is a diagram intended for use in context to the TJC 2009 EM Standards. (Note that the term “Emergency Management Plan” is no longer in TJC EM Standards or a part of NIMS terminology.)
National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center
The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) has released a podcast, “HICS for Special Pathogen Preparedness.”
Ryan Tuchmayer, the Director of Emergency Management for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, joined several other health care professionals to discuss how the Hospital Incident Command System (HICSi) ensures their hospitals are ready to respond effectively in emergencies involving special pathogens.
The podcast is available on the NETEC website and all major listening platforms.
Other Resources
-
Emergency Management Chapter Revisions
Calhospital PrepareDetails -
Virtual Reality for Emergency Management Training
Calhospital PrepareDetails -
Preparing for The Joint Commission EM Survey: Now and in the Future
Calhospital PrepareDetails -
Does a HICS course take the place of the ICS 100, 200 and IS700 courses?
Calhospital PrepareDetails