The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a
systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies
at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and
the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of
incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in
order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the
environment. NIMS works hand in hand with the National Response
Framework (NRF). NIMS provides the template for the management of
incidents, while the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms
for national-level policy for incident management.
This updated document reflects upcoming changes which will take
place on July 1, 2012. This tool ws developed to assist
hospitals with National Incident Management System (NIMS)
implementation. The compliance objectives are mandated, however
the examples to achieve compliance are only suggestions.
Hospitals may have other means for demonstrating compliance.
Hospitals may use a vendor-created or in-person training course.
The NIMS Information Center (NIC) recognizes that many
operational aspects of NIMS, including ICS training, are
available through state, local and tribal training agencies and
bia private training vendors.
Hospitals verify their NIMS compliance by meeting the fourteen
NIMS elements.
NIMS courses ICS-100, ICS-200 and IS-700 or their equivalents
should be completed by:
Hospital personnel who are likely to assume a leadership ICS
position in the Hospital Command Center or who have a primary
responsibility for emergency management.
Hospital Emergency Preparedness Committee Members/persons
responsible for the Emergency Management Plan.
The Emergency Program Manager.
In addition, the Emergency Program Manager should complete
IS-800 B or equivalent.
All hospitals and healthcare systems receiving Federal
preparedness and response grants, contracts or cooperative
agreements (e.g., Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program,
Department of Homeland Security grants) must work to implement
the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Hospital and healthcare systems are defined as all facilities
that receive medical and trauma emergency patients on a daily
basis. These facilities do not include non-hospital receivers
(i.e., nursing homes, assisted living communities, long-term care
facilities and specialty hospitals (i.e. psychiatric,
rehabilitation facilities). However, non-hospital receivers are
strongly encouraged to work with their local hospitals, public
health departments and emergency management to integrate
applicable elements of NIMS Implementation (i.e. planning,
communications, resources) to allow for better communication and
coordination.