The Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) is a standardized, all-hazards incident management system tailored specifically for hospitals and healthcare organizations. Led and maintained by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), HICS is based on the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) and is consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). It is intended for use in both emergency and non-emergency situations, such as preplanned events.
The system provides a scalable command structure—the Hospital Incident Management Team (HIMT)—and a comprehensive set of downloadable tools, including a guidebook, Job Action Sheets (JASs), Incident Planning Guides (IPGs), Incident Response Guides (IRGs), and over 20 standardized forms (e.g., Incident Briefing, Organization Assignment List, Patient Tracking, Resource Accounting) to assist with incident planning and documentation. HICS is designed to support multi-agency coordination and is expanded to meet the needs of all hospitals and healthcare providers (including rehabilitation centers and urgent care centers), regardless of their size or patient care capabilities. The principal beneficiaries include hospital physicians, nurses, and administrators who have a response role during a crisis. The most current major revision is the Fifth Edition, released in May 2014.
