How to Prepare for Special Pathogens Using the Hospital Incident Command System

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NETEC experts in emergency management recently joined the Transmission Interrupted podcast to discuss HICS, the Hospital Incident Command System, and its effectiveness in preparing for special pathogen events. Listen to the podcast. 

What is the Hospital Incident Command System? 

The Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) is designed specifically for use in hospitals and is based on principles of the Incident Command System (ICS), which is a standardized framework used for managing and coordinating emergency response activities during incidents, emergencies, and disasters.  

Both ICS and HICS provide a structured approach to effectively manage resources, personnel, and communication to ensure a coordinated response among multiple agencies and organizations involved in an incident. 

How ICS was Developed 

ICS was developed by fire service professionals after a series of devastating wildfires in California in the 1970s that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, environmental consequences, and billions of dollars of property damage. The efforts of fire and emergency service professionals during these incidents highlighted the challenges of coordinating resources and personnel from multiple agencies, leading to a lack of effective communication and coordination.  

While the system was originally created to improve coordination during wildfires, its principles have been widely adopted across various branches of emergency response. 

A Valuable Tool for Managing All Types of Emergencies 

The origins of ICS demonstrate the importance of incident management, which encompasses key functions such as effective communications, resource management, and clear roles and responsibilities. The ICS framework provides a comprehensive approach to managing incidents and is flexible and adaptable to various types of incidents, emergencies, and disasters. 

How Does HICS Apply to Special Pathogens? 

HICS can be used for all kinds of emergencies, from power outages in the hospital to mass casualty events. This all-hazards approach to using HICS applies to special pathogens events, as they are a type of hazard and require an emergency response. The HICS activation for a special pathogen is like activations for other events, and trained staff are prepared to respond to disparate challenges or threats.  

Special pathogen incident response is complex and usually requires specialized support and additional resources from supply chain to finance and administration, and the activation of HICS roles such as Medical Technical Specialists, Safety Officers, and other roles that need to be identified and built into the HICS structure. 

Many facilities may not be comfortable responding to a special pathogen event. But HICS can help hospitals create the organizational structure to be able to escalate questions, get specialty advice for caring for a patient, or access resources in an incident. 

HICS Training in Your Facility 

While HICS is an emergency management framework, it is important for everyone in a hospital to be familiar with it because: 

• Most hospitals and health care systems use HICS. If you are working with other agencies (health departments, EMS agencies, other hospitals) you will be able to speak the same language, i.e., using standardized terminology. 
• Even if you work bedside and are focused on patient care, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes. Knowing the roles and responsibilities outlined in HICS supports more effective and efficient communication within the hospital. 
• Staffing shortages can create knowledge gaps, but if everyone on staff is confident and familiar with how HICS works, the hospital will be prepared to respond to emergencies in a structured and safe way that prevents tragedies. 

Take the HICS Course 

NETEC has developed a course on HICS for all-hazard and special pathogens activations to help hospitals and health care agencies improve their emergency management planning, response, and recovery capabilities for planned and unplanned events, including special pathogen events.  

Integrating HICS topics into routine training and education within an organization is critical for efficient incident management, enabling leaders to proficiently manage both unforeseen disasters and planned events. Using HICS for all incidents and events can help refine and sustain the competencies crucial for effectively handling large-scale emergencies. 

Central to HICS are five fundamental management functions: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration. The NETEC course covers all these functions and identifies the key roles essential to each domain.  

Additionally, several quick-start resources are available throughout the course. Learn how to write an Incident Action Plan that defines the situation and roles required for an incident; create customized Job Action Sheets to support the roles most likely to be activated for special pathogen response in your facility; and more.  

This comprehensive approach of HICS ensures effective incident management, enhancing readiness and response capabilities across diverse situations. 

Listen to the podcast. 

Resources for HICS 

• NETEC HICS Roles and Responsibilities: Considerations for Special Pathogens Activations online course: https://courses.netec.org/courses/hics-roles-and-responsibilities-considerations-for-special-pathogens-activations 
• California Hospital Association Hospital Incident Command System training: https://www.calhospitalprepare.org/hics 
• California Emergency Medical Services Authority HICS Job Action Sheets (JAS): https://emsa.ca.gov/hospital-incident-command-system-job-action-sheets-2014/