In 2014, Wisconsin established seven healthcare emergency readiness coalition regions (HERC) to coordinate how public health, healthcare institutions, and first responder agencies, such as police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS), will manage their efforts to enact a uniform and unified response to an emergency, including a mass casualty or other catastrophic event.
A healthcare emergency readiness coalition is a group of healthcare organizations, public safety and public health partners that join forces for the common goal of making their communities safer, healthier, and more resilient.
The coalitions support communities before, during, and after disasters and other health-related crises.
SPOTLIGHT
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published an emergency preparedness rule for health providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid. This rule allows facilities to establish and maintain consistent emergency preparedness policies and procedures in order to increase patient safety during emergencies. Learn more by visiting CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule page.
New Toolkits for CMS Preparedness Rule
DHS is creating toolkits to assist the providers affected by the new rule. Each of these toolkits gives facilities that fall under the new rule an overview of the requirements for their provider type, as well as some sample templates in a workbook that can be used in their planning efforts.
Check back on the CMS preparedness rule toolkit webpage for the most current toolkits available.
For general information and resources, visit the CMS preparedness rule webpage.
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HERC Regions
Wisconsin is divided into seven regional healthcare emergency readiness coalitions. For more information on the coalition in your region, see their coalition websites below or view the regional contact information map (PDF) :
- Northeast Region
- Northwest Region
- North Central Region
- Fox Valley Region
- Southeast Region
- Western Region
- South Central Region
Click on the image to the right for a downloadable pdf of the locations.
HERC Resources
General Information and Publications
- Healthcare Coalitions and Regional Medical Coordination, P-01276 (PDF)
- Healthcare Coalitions (HCCs) and Regional Medical Coordination - Frequently Asked Questions, P-01275 (PDF)
Presentations
- Healthcare Scenarios within the Tiered Response Plan (June 2014) - (PowerPoint)
- “Introduction to Disaster Coordination Response Tiers” webcast (May 2016)
- Healthcare Coalitions: What Hospital Leaders Need to Know (November 2014) - (PowerPoint)
- Healthcare Coalitions and Emergency Management (November 2014) - (PowerPoint)
- Healthcare Coalitions and Ebola (November 2014) - (PowerPoint)
- State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Public Health Healthcare Coalitions Presentation (July 2014) - (PowerPoint)
- Healthcare Coalition Planning Presentation (November 2014)
Program Measures
- Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Measure Manual: Implementation Guidance for the HPP Program Measures (PDF)
- Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Healthcare Preparedness Program Measures - Healthcare Coalition Assessment Factors (PDF)
HSEEP Training
The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) training provides a set of guiding principles for exercise programs, as well as a common approach to exercise program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. DHS provides links to seven training lessons over viewing HSEEP principles.
Additional Resources
EMResource (WI Trac): Wisconsin tracking, resources, alerts and communication
Legal resources for emergency preparedness
Residential care facilities resources
The Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Program supports hospital emergency preparedness planning and response to mass casualty incidents or pandemic events. The Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Program is funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (DHHS).
