California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) conducted a Statewide Medical and Health exercise on November 21, 2013. This year’s exercise was focused on the Homeland Security Target Capabilities of Medical Surge, Communication, Emergency Operations Center Management, Emergency Public Information and Warning, and Public Health Epidemiological Surveillance and the exercise scenario was a foodborne disease outbreak.

ReddiNet was used extensively during this drill in 14 California counties, by local EMS Agencies and hospital preparedness programs, including clinics and LTCs. Hospitals updated their HAvBED data true ReddiNet (using the BED Capacity module), responded to assessment polls (using the Assessment module) and participated in MCIs (using the Mass Casualty Incident module). LEMSAs submitted their HAvBED reports from ReddiNet to the state within the expected timeframe.

Per CDPH, according to the Federal HAvBED system, California had 91 percent of hospital preparedness programs report HAvBED data. The requirement was 75 percent, so California passed.

Contact: Soraya Peters
(213) 538-0790, speters@hasc.org