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III. HOSPITAL INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (HICS)

HICS Structure
MSKCC utilizes the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) to coordinate essential services and assign responsibilities during emergencies. This system is consistent and integrated with local, state and federal incident command processes.  HICS is flexible and allows the Center to activate an organized command structure to respond to the specific needs of the event. In most cases, Hospital Administrators and other key staff assume disaster response responsibilities consistent with their primary responsibilities.

The Center's Administrator is designated as the HICS Incident Commander (I/C) The HICS chain of command consists of a Command Staff and four main sub sections (Logistics, Planning, Information Systems, and Operations) under the direction of the Incident Commander (I/C).  Each HICS sub-section is lead by a Section Chief.  Other HICS team members may be activated by their respective Chiefs based on the needs of the incident.  The HICS Table of Organization (Appendix A) and processes are reviewed and updated on an annual basis by the Emergency Management Committee. An overview of the HICS sections is described below.

Operations Section
The Operations Section conducts the tactical operations (e.g., patient care, clean up) to carry out the plan using defined objectives and directing all needed resources.  The Operations Section will be responsible for managing the tactical objectives outlined by the Incident Commander.

Planning Section
The Planning Section collects and evaluates information for decision support, maintains resource status information, prepares documents, and maintains documentation for incident reports.  Then Planning Section is responsible for monitoring of slow developing events (i.e. hurricane). It will also be responsible for preparing status reports, displaying various types of information, and developing the Incident Action Plan (IAP).

Logistics Section
The Logistics Section provides support, resources, and other essential services to meet the operational objectives set by Incident Command.  These responsibilities include acquiring resources from internal and external sources using standard and emergency acquisition procedures and requests to the local EOC.

Information Systems Section
The Information Systems Section ensures coordination of communication, status, and recovery activities between the IS Staff and the Emergency Management Response Team/Incident Commander.  The IS Section tracks Information Systems recovery and response activities; monitors staff, systems, applications and related IS resource availability, performance and overall continuity.

Technical Specialists
Certain incidents or events may require the use of Technical Specialists who have specialized knowledge and expertise. Technical Specialists may function as consultants to the Incident Commander or wherever their services are required.

HICS Position Coverage Plan
To assure 24-hour, 7 day/week emergency management capability all positions on the HICS organization chart must be covered at all times. Therefore, Primary, Alternate and Second Alternate coverage for HICS positions is established.

If the Primary HICS team member is unable to fulfill their role requirements the HICS Alternate for that role will be activated.

HICS team members must communicate coverage changes, by email to the Director of Emergency Management and notify telecommunications when they will be away from the Center and/or unable to fulfill their role.  HICS organizational charts, coverage plans and team member contact information is located in Appendix A of this plan.

A. Primary HICS Coverage:
Primary HICS team members will assume their role during normal weekday business hours (9-6 PM).  Primary Coverage requires that the Primary team member  is a) either on campus, or,  b) able to arrive within the hour, or c) be in communication with their HICS Direct Report, and  if approved by the I/C, fulfill their HICS role in a virtual capacity

B. Alternate HICS Coverage:
The “Alternate” will provide coverage for the primary HICS team member when the primary cannot fulfill their role for any reason during normal weekday business hours.  In the event telecommunications cannot contact the Primary HICS coverage, the First Alternate will be contacted to provide coverage.

C. Second Alternate HICS Coverage:
The “Second Alternate” will assist with relief coverage in extended events, as well as evenings, nights, and weekends.

D. HICS Operations Section Chief Coverage
Coverage for the HICS Operations Section Chief/Chief Nursing Officer is managed through a separate on-call/on-site management plan governed and maintained by the office of the Executive Director of Nursing.

Hospital Command Center (HCC) Operations
When the EOP is implemented, the Incident Commander (I/C) may elect to activate the Center's Command Center (HCC) in M107.  The activated HICS team members will convene to coordinate response activities.  The HCC will operate as long as deemed necessary by the I/C.    Note: Not every emergency event will require activation of the HCC.

The primary Command Center location is Room M-107.

If M-107 is unsafe or otherwise undesirable to use, Room RRL-116 designated as the secondary or alternate Command Center.

Should either room be occupied by other users, the occupants will be asked to vacate the room during HCC activation.

Information on HCC protocols during an incident are delineated in the Center's Command Center Activation Protocols section of this plan.

Virtual Hospital Command Center (VHCC) Operations
Based on the scope of the incident, the availability of HICS team members, and accessibility to the Center's Command Center, the Incident Commander may elect to conduct HICS activities remotely via email/Outlook. HICS staff will be instructed if Virtual Command Center Operations are being conducted in concert with, or in lieu of M107 or RRL 116.

Incident Briefing Process
Upon assembly of the HICS team, the Incident Commander will conduct an initial situation briefing. Based on the needs of the incident, the briefing may be conducted at the Command Center, via a conference call, or by email. The Planning Officer and/or Situation Unit leader (if activated) will compile the information for the initial and subsequent briefings in cooperation with the HICS Liaison/Director of Emergency Management.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207