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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
MHA Accountable Leaders Convening Highlights Leadership, Collaboration In Workplace Violence Prevention And Intervention

September 28, 2026

MHA Accountable Leaders Convening Highlights Leadership, Collaboration In Workplace Violence Prevention And Intervention

Health care leaders from across Missouri convened Sept. 23 in Columbia, Mo., for “Accountable Leaders for Worker and Environmental Safety,” a…
Read article: "MHA Accountable Leaders Convening Highlights Leadership, Collaboration In Workplace Violence Prevention And Intervention"
The doctor analyzes the patient's EKG chart and accurately analyzes the medical report and records it in the internet database using a laptop.

September 28, 2026

CMS Moves Restraint And Seclusion Death Reporting Form To New Digital Platform

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services transitioned Form CMS-10455 — Report of a Hospital Death Associated With the Use of Restraint or…
Read article: "CMS Moves Restraint And Seclusion Death Reporting Form To New Digital Platform"
Analyst Employee Working On Spreadsheet Using Desktop Computer

September 28, 2026

MHA Distributes Analysis Of Final Updates To 2027 Medicare SNF PPS

The Missouri Hospital Association prepared an analysis illustrating the financial effect of the federal fiscal year 2027 final updates to the…
Read article: "MHA Distributes Analysis Of Final Updates To 2027 Medicare SNF PPS"
CMS Issues Preliminary CY 2027 Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Payment Rates

September 25, 2026

CMS Issues Preliminary CY 2027 Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Payment Rates

As directed under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must collect private payer rates…
Read article: "CMS Issues Preliminary CY 2027 Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Payment Rates"

Get Involved Events & Education

All Events
Oct 1

Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Forum

The Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Forum brings together marketing, communications, public relations and digital strategy leaders…

View event: "Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Forum"
Oct 9

23rd Annual Health Care Leadership Series

Step into leadership with confidence! Gain skills, tools and a strong network to lead change in today’s evolving health care landscape.

View event: "23rd Annual Health Care Leadership Series"
Oct 9

PQC Connect: Building an Integrated Perinatal Mental Health Clinic in an OB-GYN Residency Practice: Lessons From a Maternal Health Innovation Grant

This session describes the development and early implementation of an integrated perinatal mental health clinic, supported by a maternal health…

View event: "PQC Connect: Building an Integrated Perinatal Mental Health Clinic in an OB-GYN Residency Practice: Lessons From a Maternal Health Innovation Grant"
Oct 13

MO PQC Maternal and Infant Symposium

The Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s Maternal & Infant Symposium will highlight patient-centered quality improvement and workforce…

View event: "MO PQC Maternal and Infant Symposium"
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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