Hospital Incident Command System (HICSi) 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.
Updated in 2014, the Hospital Incident Command System (HICSi) 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.
Psychological Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment: Provides methods
to link mental health to disaster system of care, mental health
triage tag, IT, and ICS/HICSi compliant job action sheets.
This tool is designed to assist hospitals in the development of
an Incident Action Plan (IAP) for each Operational Period. The
IAP is a process which uses a combination of Hospital Incident
Command System (HICSi) Forms; it is minimally comprised of HICS
201 Incident Briefing, HICS 202 Incident Objectives, HICS 203
Organization Assignment List, HICS 204 Branch Assignment List,
and HICS 215A Incident Action Safety Analysis.
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.
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 (HICSi) 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 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:
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 IS-800 course is available through FEMA’s website. The course
introduces participants to the concepts and principles of the
National Response Framework.
At the end of this course, participants will be able to describe:
The purpose of the National Response Framework.
The response doctrine established by the National Response
Framework.
The roles and responsibilities of entities as specified in
the National Response Framework.
The actions that support national response.
The response organizations used for multiagency coordination.
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.)
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.
