At St. John's, we take very seriously our responsibility to provide the best possible health care. In conjunction with emergency management authorities and on our own, we test our capabilities several times each year. Working with county, state and federal authorities, St. John's is trained for potential bioterrorism. Our infection control specialists, working with outside agencies, train staff members and monitor the health of our patients to remain alert for potential problems. We hope the skills learned in this training are never called into action, but we are ready to use them if needed.

After Sept. 11, 2001, St. John's set up a hospital emergency incident command system. Recommended by the American Hospital System, HEICS is an emergency management system that employs a logical management structure, defined responsibilities, clear reporting channels and a common system to unify hospitals with other emergency responders.

The HEICS organizational chart shows a chain of command, which incorporates four sections under the overall leadership of an emergency incident commander. Each of the sections: logistics, planning, finance and operations, safety and security, public information and administration, has a chief responsible for their section. The chiefs in turn designate directors and unit leaders to sub-functions, with supervisors and officers filling other crucial roles.

"This structure limits the span of control of each manager in the attempt the distribute the work. It also provides for a system of documenting and reporting all emergency response activities," says St. John's trauma surgeon Roger Huckfeldt, M.D., who is involved in efforts to ensure St. John's is well-prepared for any kind of disaster. "The ultimate goal is to develop a flexible program which can be expanded or scaled back to meet the particular needs of each specific crisis."