Radiation Annex
Overview
This document represents the radiation patient surge plan for the Wyoming Region 1 Healthcare Coalition (R1HCC). This document is intended to offer general guidelines from which partner agencies can tailor their response to a radiation surge event.
Introduction
A radiation emergency mass casualty incident is any incident where capacity and capability significantly compromise patient care, following local, state, regional, or federal disaster response plans. Additionally, several small, simultaneous incidents within a locality or region may also amount to a Radiation Exposure MCI if taxing on staff, facilities, or resources. Radiation exposure care is limited, therefore, is likely to exceed the resources of a single jurisdiction and will require surge measures in multiple facilities and possibly engage a broad array of state, regional, and national stakeholders, depending on the scope of the incident.
This plan is intended to be flexible to fit the needs of the response, covering all aspects of a tiered approach to a response from the local level up to federal assistance as necessary. It contains guidelines for radiation surge events in R1HCC facilities, including resources for staff training and augmentation, supplies and equipment, and special considerations. The plan was developed in consultation with federal guidelines and requirements for all healthcare coalitions.
Federal guidance provides more detail on the necessity and content of this plan. The 2019-2023 HPP Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) requires Healthcare Coalitions (HCCs) to develop a complementary coalition-level radiation emergency surge annex to their base medical surge/trauma mass casualty response plan. This annex aims to improve capacity and capabilities to manage exposed or potentially exposed patients during a radiation emergency. According to the 2017-2022 Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities, “Communities should be prepared to manage exposed or potentially exposed patients during a chemical or radiation emergency. During such events, individuals may go to various health care facilities, police and fire stations, and other locations for assistance...” (Capability 4, Objective 2, Activity 5).
This annex provides guidance to support a Radiation Exposure MCI in which the number and severity of exposed or potentially exposed patients exceed the capability of R1HCC healthcare facilities. The annex identifies the resources (both within and external to the R1HCC) that must be engaged in a Radiation MCI response.
The overarching goal is to ensure the highest standard of care possible for the greatest number of patients during a radiation exposure surge event, with the following objectives: ● Plan and coordinate activations, notifications, logistics, and resources; ● Recognize roles, responsibilities, and organizational structure; and ● Solidify operations, including triage, treatment, and transfer flow and support.