Upcoming training targets emergency preparedness
Friday September 7, 2007 -- Natalie Miller
The Ontario Hospital Association is offering upcoming training geared at helping healthcare workers equip themselves with the tools to handle large-scale emergencies should they happen.

Events including the September 11, 2001 terrorism attacks on the United States and the SARS outbreak in Canada in 2003 anchored the need to be prepared for the unexpected, the OHA states in the course outline on its website.

The training tool is called The Incident Management System (IMS) and is used by fire departments here and in the United States as well as a number of police and emergency medical services. Hospitals are also beginning to use IMS.

“The Incident Management System (IMS) for Health Care Facilities is geared toward hospital staff directly involved in the development and operations of emergency management planning and procedures within their organization and will be of interest to individuals who have direct responsibility for safety and security, emergency procedures, risk management, including senior administrators, critical care providers, emergency department staff and clinical educators,” the OHA says.

The course, developed by the OHA and Toronto Emergency Medical Services, is offered Oct. 22 to Oct. 24 at the CN Tower, 301 Front St. W. in Toronto.

IMS is a system in which large-scale emergencies are addressed by many first responders.

“IMS is essential if a co-ordinated, multi-agency response is to be effective. It will allow for standardization of language, a common approach, enhanced communication, management of human and physical resources and partnerships with other emergency services.”

Participants who attend the course can expect to hear an overview and gain an understanding of IMS and learn how to put IMS into place in their organizations. They will also learn about the importance of partnerships between healthcare providers and other first responders to an emergency.

Course leaders will share the information through a variety of presentations by subject experts from emergency and health care services, group discussions, assignments and handouts.

Those who successfully complete the course requirements will receive a certificate.

For more information and to register visit this link.