Hospitals should consider memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with organizations that can supplement their resources and services during emergencies and disasters. MOUs are established between hospitals, other health care providers, and/or emergency response agencies to collaborate, communicate, respond, and support one another during a disaster or other public health emergency. Understandings regarding the incident command structure, patient and resource management, processes and policies in place for requesting and sharing of staff, equipment and consumable resources, as well as payment, are generally addressed in a local mutual aid MOU.
The mutual aid support concept is well established and is considered “standard of care” in most emergency response disciplines. The purpose of this mutual aid support agreement is to aid hospitals in their emergency management by authorizing the Hospital Mutual Aid System (H-MAS). H-MAS addresses the loan of medical personnel, pharmaceuticals, supplies, and equipment, or assistance with emergent hospital evacuation, including accepting transferred patients.
2018 Disaster Conference
This presentation discusses resource limitations and needs faced by rural hospitals and describes the types of community collaboration that can be useful to filling in resource gaps. The session outlines the importance of proactive planning in preparation for emergency/disaster situations by establishing and maintaining the use of MOUs.
2023 Disaster Conference
Rural communities face many challenges and resource limitations. When an emergency arises, it is not the time to scramble to find needed resources. Ideally resource needs have been identified and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) are already in place, ready to access if needed. Rural hospitals are a hub of the community and can lead the way in emergency preparedness collaboration and organization by establishing relationships, contacts and MOUs with business, schools, and community organizations.
Hospital plans for full or partial evacuation should incorporate pre-planning and address the incident command and management structure established for its operational area (community). In advance of an event, Hospitals should understand and incorporate local plans and protocols that are in place to support evacuation and should establish Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with other hospitals, as necessary, for transfer and mutual aid during an emergency.(See CHA Hospital Evacuation Plan Checklist)
A new law that could impact hospital emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric capacity can be delayed until 2026 if county boards of supervisors across California adopt a resolution within the next few months.
California’s hospitals quickly mobilize and adapt to continue providing patient care during emergencies. These resources provide essential information to support hospitals’ emergency planning and response efforts. Quick Links Search Hospital Disaster Preparedness
Communities with low vaccination rates, waning immunity, and indoor gatherings pose the potential for additional surges of patients with COVID-19 who need hospital care. As hospitals and health systems continue to care for patients during this pandemic, CHA has updated its FAQs and links to help inform the surge response to challenges such as staffing and space. In particular, the...
The state has medical surge personnel in the staging pool who it would like to allocate to impacted facilities.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released a revised All-Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-46.2 regarding health care facility requests for urgent staffing resources. Hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities experiencing staffing shortages are directed to report the shortage as an unusual occurrence to CDPH.
