Evacuation of a rural community hospital: lessons learned from an unplanned event

A credible bomb threat forced the complete evacuation of a rural community hospital. An Incident Command System was implemented, and all 46 patients were temporarily transported and maintained at 2 local sites. They were returned to the hospital approximately 24 hours later. Only one patient experienced a complication possibly associated with the evacuation. This article discusses pertinent strategies and considerations involved in the planning and execution of a rural hospital evacuation. It further highlights the role of the emergency department medical and nursing staff throughout the evacuation process.