Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
III. Definition of Terms
Command Post An area established in a hospital during an emergency that is the
facility's primary source of administrative authority and decision-
making.
Clearinghouse A communication and information center that has H-MARS network
capabilities allowing for the immediate determination of available
hospital resources at the time of a disaster. The clearinghouse must be
operational 24 hours a day and requires daily maintenance. The clear-
inghouse does not have any decision-making or supervisory authority
but merely collects and disseminates information, and performs regular
radio checks of the H-MARS system.
Donor Hospital The hospital that provides personnel, pharmaceuticals, supplies, or
equipment to a facility experiencing a medical disaster. Also referred to
as the patient-receiving hospital when involving evacuating patients.
H-MAS Hospital Mutual Aid System
H-MARS Hospital Mutual Aid Radio System—The primary communication
system used by hospitals to communicate during an emergency.
Impacted Hospital The hospital where the disaster occurred or disaster victims are being
treated. Referred to as the recipient hospital when pharmaceuticals,
supplies, or equipment are requested, or as the patient-transferring
hospital when the evacuation of patients is required.
Medical Disaster An incident that exceeds a facility's effective response capability
or cannot appropriately resolve solely by using its own resources.
Such disasters will very likely involve the (name of local) emergency
management agency and (name of local) public health department and
may involve loan of medical and support personnel, pharmaceuticals,
supplies, and equipment from another facility, or, the emergent evacua-
tion of patients.
Partner (“Buddy”) The designated facility that a hospital communicates with as a facility's
“first call for help” during a medical disaster (developed through an
optional partnering arrangement).
Patient-Receiving Hospital The hospital that receives transferred patients from a facility responding
to a disaster. When patients are evacuated, the receiving facility is
referred to as the patient-receiving hospital. When personnel or materials
are involved, the providing hospital is referred to as the donor hospital.
Patient-Transferring Hospital An impacted facility. The hospital that evacuates patients to patient-
receiving facility in response to a medical disaster. Also referred to as
the recipient hospital when personnel and materials are moved to the
facility.
Participating Hospitals
Health care facilities that have fully committed to H-MAS.
Recipient Hospital
The impacted facility. The hospital where disaster patients are being
treated and has requested personnel or materials from another facility.
Also referred to as the patient-transferring hospital when evacu-
ating/transferring patients from the facility during a medical disaster.
