Advise the Incident Commander and/or Operations Section Chief, as assigned, on issues related to biological/infectious disease emergency response.
Update Secondary Person Responsible:
Documents/Tools:
• Incident Action Plan
• Hospital emergency operations plan
• Hospital organization chart
• Hospital telephone directory
• Radio/satellite phone
• Local public health department reporting forms
1. Receive appointment and briefing from the Incident Commander.
2. Read this entire Job Action Sheet and review incident management team chart (HICS Form 207). Put on position identification.
3. Notify your usual supervisor of your HICS assignment.
4. Document all key activities, actions, and decisions in an Operational Log (HICS Form 214)
5. Request staffing assistance from the Labor Pool and Credentialing Unit Leader to assist with rapid research as needed to determine hazard and safety information critical to treatment and decontamination concerns for the victims and personnel.
6. Verify from the ED, infectious disease physicians and infection control staff and report the following information to the Incident Commander or Operations Section Chief and Medical Care Branch Director:
• Number and condition of patients affected, including the non-symptomatic
• Type of biological/infectious disease involved
• Medical problems present in addition biological/infectious disease involved
• Measures taken (e.g., cultures, supportive treatment)
• Potential for industrial, chemical, or radiological material exposure expected in addition to biological/infectious disease exposure and scope of communicability
7. Collaborate with the Public Health Department in developing a case definition. Ensure that the case definition is communicated to the Medical Care Branch Director, Safety Officer and all patient care areas.
8. Communicate with Operations Section Chief and Safety Officer regarding disease information and staff protection.
9. Ensure that appropriate standard of isolation precautions are being used in all patient care areas. Arrange for just-in-time training regarding isolation precautions as required.
10. Meet regularly with the Command staff, Operations Section Chief and Medical Care Branch Director to plan and project patient care needs.
11. Participate in briefings and meetings and contribute to the Incident Action Plan, as Recommend input for PIO press releases as requested.
12. Contact the local Public Health Department, in collaboration with the Liaison Officer, as required, for notification, support, and investigation resources.
13. Assist the Clinic Administration Medical/Technical Specialist and the Employee Health and Well-Being Unit in organizing Mass Dispensing Clinics or Point of Dispensing for antibiotic prophylaxis or mass vaccination, as indicated and if recommended by the Public Health Department.
14. Document all communications (internal and external) on an Incident Message Form (HICS Form 213). Provide a copy of the Incident Message Form to the Documentation Unit.
Ongoing Duties:
1. Establish regular meeting schedule with the Incident Commander or Operations Section Chief for updates on the situation regarding hospital operation needs.
2. Maintain communications with Medical Care Branch Director and other Command staff to co-monitor development of the incident and maintain information resource availability.
3. Direct collection of samples for analysis or evidence.
4. Monitor and Ensure all samples are correctly packaged for shipment to the most appropriate testing location/laboratory.
5. Continue to recommend and maintain appropriate isolation precautions and staff protection as the incident evolves.
