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After September 11, many organizations changed how they did business. Partners and BWH were no different.
Although a rigorous disaster plan has long been in place at BWH, as of this spring, the hospital, as well as all of the Partners acute care hospitals, implemented the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS).
HEICS allows Partners and all its member institutions to have a command structure that is proven to work in crisis and is similar in organization and scope to other hospitals and emergency response organizations, including the fire department, police, EMS, military and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BWH and Partners have received local and national attention for this effort, and the Partners HEICS system is being reproduced at many local, regional and national institutions. Richard Zane, MD, vice chair, Emergency Medicine, leads the HEICS effort.
According to Zane, HEICS implementation has progressed along its intended timeline and is ready to begin the final of its four-phase implementation process.
“The unique feature of this structure is that it designates leadership generically, identifying positions, not individuals. So, if the senior-most individual is not on-site, the next in line serves as the commander and so on,” said Zane, who explains that the system’s contingent structure allows more flexibility, coordination and collaboration in responding to a crisis.
During Phase I of the program’s implementation, high-level command staff participated in an all-day training session. Phase II focused on orienting lower-level command staff to the structure and process. Phase III entailed a tabletop drill in early October.
Next month, Phase IV will test the command system with a five-day drill that will involve participation from other local organizations as well as federal agencies.
For more information on HEICS, email Public Affairs (bwhbulletin@partners.org).