A team from Logansport Memorial Hospital hosted a table-top disaster exercise for Cass, Carroll and White counties that was attended by more than 80 people.

Led by the Purdue Homeland Security Institute and the Purdue Healthcare Technical Assistance Program, the group of people from hospitals and public agencies from the three-county area partnered with representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) to work out solutions to pandemic-related scenarios.

Purdue's David Hankins was project manager for the exercise. "Putting such an exercise together brings great value to local communities because it increases the preparedness for hospitals and healthcare providers," commented Hankins. "Preparedness is not a destination. It's a journey. These communities should feel good that their medical providers are committed to improving their disaster preparedness plans."

Invited to attend by the ISDH, representatives from the CDC appreciated the chance to observe at the grass roots level to see how local preparedness fits with the big picture.

Janet Archer, ISDH emergency preparedness nurse, explained how the table-top disaster exercise came to be. "With the help of Purdue's Healthcare Technical Assistance Program, the ISDH applied for a competitive grant to facilitate writing plans to address the continuation of essential services while caring for large numbers of flu patients. The exercises are held to test those plans and ultimately community preparedness. We chose three sites in Indiana where there were counties with hospitals next to a county without a hospital. Cass, Carroll and White fit the requirement."

All three counties have been working on plans with the Healthcare Technical Assistance Program since January to address essential services that a healthcare system will keep operating during a pandemic. This exercise tested those plans. Many non-emergency services may be suspended during such an emergency so medical personnel can devote their time to vital patient care.

"This exercise helped the participants to modify their plans," continued Archer. "I'm sure that everyone realized they needed changes. All participants will have access to an after-action report that will evaluate the exercise and feature an improvement plan."