Activating the Hospital Incident Command System Response in a Community Specialty Practice: The Mayo Clinic Experience

The COVID-19 pandemic presented health care organizations with a unique challenge in determining effective management of a large-scale incident across an extended time period.

This report describes the response of a multisite integrated system to the COVID-19 pandemic through activation of the Hospital Incident Command System.

A robust emergency response plan with multidisciplinary involvement can help to ensure clear lines of accountability and expedite decision-making. Consistent physician input across affected specialties allows for a robust understanding of impacted areas, peer-to-peer communication, and a sense of ownership across the medical staff. The necessity of effective communication with staff and patients during times of crisis cannot be understated. The potential for information overload in a pandemic is significant but can be overcome through consistent and transparent communication from leadership.

Health systems should have a well-organized emergency response system prepared to launch in small-scale or large-scale situations. The threshold to implement the response system and accountability to make that decision must be a clearly defined organizational policy.