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Preparedness & Emergency Response

MHA Staff headshot Kara Amann Kale

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Kara Amann

Director of Hospital Preparedness Programs

Hospital emergency preparedness and response is fundamental to community resiliency.

These planning resources establish hospital readiness, and provide a proven response and recovery framework, for before, during and after an emergency.

Stages of an Emergency

01. Preparedness

Preparedness are steps taken to ensure safety before, during and after an emergency. It is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response.

02. Response

Response takes place in the initial minutes of an emergency and involves repeated assessment, planning, action and review to respond appropriately to needs and capacities as they evolve.

03. Mitigation

Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of incidents.

04. Recovery

Recovery is the phase of the emergency from the point of incident stabilization to a return to a “normal” state.

MHA Resources

Implementing the Basics of HICS

On-demand content is available to ensure operational level staff or executives are equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills to navigate any crisis seamlessly.

  1. Operational Level
  2. Executive Level

Health Care Preparedness Professional Orientation Timeline

The Health Care Preparedness Professional Orientation Timeline provides a standardized orientation template to understand facility requirements, regional resources and Missouri’s health care response system. (Excel file)

  1. View the Timeline

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA’s mission is to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from disasters with a vision of “A Nation Prepared.”  The agency offers several resources to help people before, during, and after disasters.

National Incident Management System

FEMA’s National Incident Management System provides a common, nationwide approach to enable the whole community to work together to manage all threats and hazards. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. NIMS retains key concepts and principles while incorporating lessons learned from exercises and real-world incidents, best practices, and changes in national policy.

MHA Resources

FEMA Resources

  1. View the Latest Preparedness & Emergency Response Resources
  2. Learn More About EMResource/EICS
  3. Learn More About the Missouri Health Care Coaltition

Stay Informed MHA Newsroom

All News
Hospital Leaders Share Insights For Exceeding HEALTHPAC Contribution Goals

August 15, 2025

Hospital Leaders Share Insights For Exceeding HEALTHPAC Contribution Goals

Leading your organization's participation in HEALTHPAC — the Missouri Hospital Association’s state-level political action committee — can be…
Read article: "Hospital Leaders Share Insights For Exceeding HEALTHPAC Contribution Goals"
MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention To Focus On 'People: The Point Of Care'

August 13, 2025

MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention To Focus On 'People: The Point Of Care'

From the patients and communities that hospitals serve to the employees who make care possible, the mission of health care is always…
Read article: "MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention To Focus On 'People: The Point Of Care'"
Online travel booking. Teleworking. Online shopping and e-commerce.

August 13, 2025

MO HealthNet Releases Nursing Home Reimbursement Training

The Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Central Office Medical…
Read article: "MO HealthNet Releases Nursing Home Reimbursement Training"
Medium shot of three firefighters discussing a digital map in the fire department

August 11, 2025

Resources Available For National Emergency Management Awareness Month

August is National Emergency Management Awareness Month, a new initiative launched by the International Association of Emergency Managers to…
Read article: "Resources Available For National Emergency Management Awareness Month"

Get Involved Events & Education

All Events
Aug 25

HIDI Office Hours

Connect with HIDI experts during open office hours — get personalized help with tools, data submission and more.

View event: "HIDI Office Hours"
Aug 26

HIDI Focus Session: HIDI Point of Care Alerting and Portal

Get real-time patient insights from first encounter to discharge. Our ADT solution boosts care, coordination and compliance across hospitals.

View event: "HIDI Focus Session: HIDI Point of Care Alerting and Portal"
Sep 4

PFAC Office Hours: Engaging Leadership in PFACs

Engage leadership to empower PFACs! Join our expert panel to spark collaboration, share strategies and drive lasting impact.

View event: "PFAC Office Hours: Engaging Leadership in PFACs"
Sep 9

Credentialing: Navigating Risk and Readiness in the Provider Lifecycle: Five-part Virtual Series

Protect your organization and empower staff. This five-part series builds oversight skills to manage provider data and guide smart decisions.

View event: "Credentialing: Navigating Risk and Readiness in the Provider Lifecycle: Five-part Virtual Series"
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Mutual Aid Agreement

The Missouri Hospital Mutual Aid Agreement establishes a coordinated system through which hospitals throughout Missouri and in adjoining states will provide mutual aid to each other as necessary to support emergency medical care needs in a medical disaster.

  1. Download the Mutual Aid Agreement