Hospital Emergency Response Checklist (All-Hazards)

17 items · Health · Hard difficulty · 1 hour

Practical all-hazards steps for hospital admins and emergency managers.

• Activate hospital incident command system

  Declare response level, assign leadership and key roles, set clear objectives.

• Establish a centralized communication hub

  Set reporting intervals, maintain a single source of truth, and log decisions.

• Assess and secure critical infrastructure

  Check power, water, HVAC, medical gas and waste systems for continuity.

• Implement the surge capacity plan

  Trigger bed expansion, cohorting, and patient flow protocols.

• Convert non-clinical spaces to patient care areas

  Identify equipment needs and assign staff for converted spaces.

• Postpone elective procedures and non-urgent appointments

  Notify patients, reschedule where appropriate, and free resources.

• Verify staffing levels and reassign personnel

  Identify critical gaps, use cross-trained teams, and set shift limits.

• Activate staff call-back roster and volunteer lists

  Use pre-established contacts and track confirmations in real time.

• Provide staff rest areas and enforce rotation schedules

  Ensure breaks, mental health support, and limit consecutive hours.

• Implement mass-casualty triage protocols

  Apply simple triage categories and tag patients for treatment order.

• Enforce infection prevention and control measures

  Provide PPE, isolate contagious patients, and increase cleaning frequency.

• Secure essential supplies and pharmaceuticals

  Inventory critical consumables and request emergency procurement.

• Coordinate with external agencies and public health authorities

  Share situation reports, request resources, and align response actions.

• Communicate clearly with staff, patients, and the public

  Keep messages factual, consistent, and update regularly.

• Document actions, decisions, and deviations from standard policy

  Maintain logs for legal, clinical and ethical review later.

• Conduct rapid safety checks before reopening services

  Verify infrastructure, staffing, supplies and infection control readiness.

• Resume elective services only after safety checks are complete

  Confirm readiness and communicate phased reopening to stakeholders.

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