Disaster Medical System

Degree of System Involvement

Function 1: Development and Maintenance of Medical and Health Disaster Plans, Policies, and Procedures for the Operational Area

Element 1.2: Emergency/Departmental Operations Center Procedures

Guideline 1.2.1: Response Activation

Guideline 1.2.2: Response Start-up and Operation

Guideline 1.2.3: Departmental Operations Center (DOC) Activation Criteria

Guideline 1.2.4: Deactivation/De-escalation/Demobilization of Departmental Operations Center

DEGREE OF SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to summarize levels of function of the Disaster Medical System during disaster or MCI circumstances.

II. AUTHORITY

A. Division 2.5, Health and Safety Code, Section 1797.150-152

III. DEFINITIONS

A. Departmental Operations Center (DOC) means the center for coordinating discipline-specific activities outside the city or county Emergency Operations Center (e.g. Medical/Health DOC).

B. Medical/Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC, M/H OAC, or Medical/Health OAC) means the individual responsible for the coordination of medical and health resources and activities within the operational area.

B. Operational Area means the county and all political subdivisions within the county.

D. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) means the organization that coordinates activities during an emergency response.

IV. POLICIES (Note: details of individual medical plans should be incorporated into this policy wherever appropriate.)

A. The disaster medical system may function during an MCI or disaster at any of the following levels (each of which should be defined within the local plan):

1. Consultation with the Medical/Health OAC

2. Activation of the Medical/Health Branch in the Operational Area EOC

3. Activation of the Medical/Health DOC, Operational Section only

4. Activation of the full Medical/Health DOC

B. The decision to activate the Medical/Health Branch or the DOC, partially or in full, should be made by the Medical/Health OAC.

C. The criteria or decision-making process by which the system moves from one level of activation to the next should be defined in the local medical plan. Criteria should include the following:

1. Nature and severity of the event;

2. The degree of escalation or potential for escalation;

3. The need for incident coordination beyond the scene;

4. The existence of multiple disaster scenes; and

5. The need for acquisition of additional resources.

V. PROCEDURES

Procedures relating to EOC/DOC physical setup, supplies, equipment, start-up checklists, appropriate forms, personnel call-back procedures, etc. should be incorporated in this policy as a quick-reference for individuals with responsibilities in the disaster medical system.