Organize and coordinate internal and external communications connectivity.
Update Secondary Person Responsible:
Documents/Tools:
• Incident Action Plan
• Hospital emergency operations plan, including the Communications Plan and Auxiliary Communications Plan
• Hospital organization chart
• Hospital telephone directory
• Radio/satellite phone
• PC with internet access, as available
1. Receive appointment and briefing from the Service Branch Director. Obtain packet containing the Unit’s Job Action Sheets.
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) on a continual basis.
5. Appoint Communications Unit team members and in collaboration with the Service Branch Director, complete the Branch Assignment List (HICS Form 204).
6. Brief Communications Unit team members on current situation; outline Unit action plan and designate time for next briefing.
7. Set up and maintain communication equipment and provide ongoing support for the HCC.
8. Initiate the Incident Communications Log (HICS Form 205) and distribute to all HCC positions.
9. Inventory and assess all available on-hand radios and report to the Service Branch Director and Support Branch’s Supply Unit Leader.
10. Determine radio channels for response and make radio assignments. Distribute twoway radios to pre-designated areas.
11. Prepare for radio checks from personnel that are assigned hand-held radios and other portable communications equipment.
12. Assess status of all on-site communications equipment, including two-way pagers, satellite phones, public address systems, data message boards, and inter and intra-net
connectivity. Initiate repairs per the standard operating procedures.
13. Evaluate status of internal and external telephone/fax systems and report to Service Branch Director.
14. Request the response of assigned amateur radio personnel to the facility, if indicated.
15. Establish contact with the Liaison Officer.
16. 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. Expand communication network capability and equipment as required to meet the needs of the hospital response.
2. Ensure communication equipment maintains proper functioning.
3. If primary communications systems fail, establish mechanism to alert Code team and fire suppression team to respond to internal patient and/or physical emergencies (e.g., cardiac arrest, fire, etc.)
4. Develop and submit an action plan to the Service Branch Director when requested.
5. Receive and archive all documentation related to internal and external facility communication systems.
6. Advise Service Branch Director immediately of any operational issue you are not able to correct or resolve.
