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Preparedness & Emergency Response

MHA Staff headshot Kara Amann Kale

Contact an Expert

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
Diverse group of women are nursing or medical students at local university

October 2, 2025

Orientation Programs Transitioning To Education Academy Model

We are excited to announce that our long-standing orientation programs — Emergency Preparedness (EPO), Infection Prevention (IPO) and Quality…
Read article: "Orientation Programs Transitioning To Education Academy Model"
Compliance related words written wood blocks sitting on a wood surface in front of a defocused background. Compliance concept.

October 2, 2025

CMS Identifies Effects Of Federal Government Shutdown On Survey And Certification Activities

Regarding the federal government shutdown, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are doing their utmost to protect Medicare and Medicaid…
Read article: "CMS Identifies Effects Of Federal Government Shutdown On Survey And Certification Activities"
On the Move: Hospital Leadership Changes for October 2025

October 2, 2025

On the Move: Hospital Leadership Changes for October 2025

Check out these leadership changes from hospitals around the state for the month of October 2025:Community Hospital - Fairfax Names CEOAnn Schlueter…
Read article: "On the Move: Hospital Leadership Changes for October 2025"
The Capitol - Washington DC

October 1, 2025

How The Government Shutdown Impacts Hospitals

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate were unable to reach an agreement on a continuing resolution and federal government funding expired at…
Read article: "How The Government Shutdown Impacts Hospitals"

Get Involved Events & Education

All Events
Oct 2

Health Care Workforce Innovation Bi-State Summit

Join the summit to strengthen the health care workforce and explore bold strategies in K–12 pipelines, education reform and staff well-being.

View event: "Health Care Workforce Innovation Bi-State Summit"
Oct 2

2025 Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Forum

Explore trends and tools in health care marketing and PR — connect, learn and elevate your strategy. Register now to save your spot!

View event: "2025 Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Forum"
Oct 7

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"
Oct 8

Navigating the Complexities of the Nurse Manager Role

Lead with impact! This two-day event equips nurse managers with strategies, insights, and tools to build strong teams and elevate care.

View event: "Navigating the Complexities of the Nurse Manager Role"
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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