CHFM Emergency Management Preparedness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary function of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during a hospital mass casualty event?
- Coordinate resources, communications, and decision-making across the facility (Correct answer)
- Provide direct patient care to critically injured victims
- Manage media relations and public communications only
- Oversee supply chain procurement for routine operations
Correct answer: Coordinate resources, communications, and decision-making across the facility
The EOC serves as the centralized command hub that coordinates all operational, logistical, and informational activities during an emergency.
Question 2: Under CMS Conditions of Participation, how often must a hospital conduct a full-scale community-based emergency exercise?
- Every two years (Correct answer)
- Annually
- Every three years
- Once every five years
Correct answer: Every two years
CMS requires hospitals to conduct a full-scale community-based exercise at least every two years, alternating with an individual facility exercise.
Question 3: A facility manager discovers that a critical utility failure has rendered the nurse call system inoperable. Which continuity strategy should be implemented first?
- Activate a manual rounding protocol with increased staff presence (Correct answer)
- Request FEMA resources through the state emergency management agency
- Shut down the affected unit and transfer all patients
- Issue a media notice to redirect non-emergency patients
Correct answer: Activate a manual rounding protocol with increased staff presence
Manual rounding protocols are the immediate, practical continuity measure when electronic nurse call systems fail.
Question 4: Which term describes the predetermined chain of command that activates when a hospital's Incident Commander is unavailable?
- Succession planning (Correct answer)
- Unified command
- Area command
- Transfer of command
Correct answer: Succession planning
Succession planning within HICS designates pre-identified alternates for key command positions to ensure continuity of leadership.
Question 5: The PICS (Patient Information and Communication System) concept in emergency management is primarily designed to address which challenge?
- Reunifying patients with family members during and after a disaster (Correct answer)
- Allocating limited ventilators across multiple ICUs
- Tracking staff assignments during surge events
- Coordinating medication resupply with external pharmacies
Correct answer: Reunifying patients with family members during and after a disaster
PICS supports family reunification by providing a systematic way to share patient location information during mass casualty and disaster events.
Question 6: During a prolonged power outage, which clinical area requires the highest priority for emergency generator power in a hospital?
- Operating rooms and intensive care units (Correct answer)
- Administrative offices and billing departments
- Cafeteria and dietary services
- Gift shop and visitor waiting areas
Correct answer: Operating rooms and intensive care units
Life safety systems in ORs and ICUs—including ventilators, monitoring equipment, and surgical lighting—require immediate emergency power priority.
Question 7: What does the term 'just-in-time training' refer to in healthcare emergency preparedness?
- Training delivered immediately before or during an event for staff assigned new emergency roles (Correct answer)
- Annual credentialing training completed before the fiscal year ends
- Simulation drills conducted in the last quarter of the year
- Online modules assigned during new employee orientation
Correct answer: Training delivered immediately before or during an event for staff assigned new emergency roles
Just-in-time training provides rapid, focused instruction to staff at the moment they need it, often when assigned unfamiliar roles during an emergency.
CHFM Emergency Management Preparedness 3
What is the primary function of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during a hospital mass casualty event?