Communication

Appoint a public information spokesperson to coordinate hospital communication with the public, the media and health authorities?

Designate a space for press conferences (outside the immediate proximity of the emergency department, triage/waiting areas and the command centre)?

Draft brief key messages for target audiences (e.g. patients, staff, public) in preparation for the most likely disaster scenarios

Ensure that all communications to the public, media, staff (in general) and health authorities are approved by the incident commander?

Establish streamlined mechanisms of information exchange between hospital administration, department/unit heads and facility staff?

Brief hospital staff on their roles and responsibilities within the incident action plan?

Establish mechanisms for the appropriate and timely collection, processing and reporting of information to supervisory stakeholders, and through them to neighbouring hospitals, private practitioners and prehospital networks?