MODULE EXAMPLE: CommandAware^TM

Problem Objective Solution

Problem

With limited budgets and stretched personnel, today's hospitals are struggling to meet disaster readiness and response requirements of JCAHO and agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Compounding this problem, the reference materials these public agencies offer to help meet these standards is scattered and not standardized, making development and implementation of comprehensive Emergency Management Programs extremely difficult. Hospital personnel often have difficulty understanding their specific roles during an actual incident and effectively using the incident management material provided them by their disaster manager.

Objective

PortBlue has engaged Intermountain Health Care (IHC) and Jane's Information Group as content partners to develop the CommandAware emergency management system. CommandAware is a comprehensive system hospitals can use to more efficiently and cost-effectively prepare for and manage incidents.

Solution

CommandAware seeks to alleviate challenges that disaster management teams face by:

• Producing a state-of-the-art emergency management plan
• Providing detailed guidance on setting up an Incident Command Center and managing all the key emergency management functions
• Presenting key information up-front ("Quick Pass") with supplemental materials available as needed to accommodate the very fast tempo of a real crisis
• Supplying easily accessible (24/7) and up-to-date incident-specific guidance located in single familiar place (best practices, SOPs, etc.)
• Tracking incident responses, personnel, inventory and assets, costs incurred, etc.
• Giving guidance on crisis communications

Hospitals that adopt CommandAware will more efficiently manage all phases of an incident.

Diagnose Situations

• Assist personnel in identifying the nature of the disaster (e.g., which chemical agent has utilized) and level of activation for incident
• Map resources to requirements
• Identify gaps in capabilities and preparedness