Critical Healthcare Facility: Medical Resource Request Overview
December 2016
A variety of unusual circumstances may necessitate the need for a critical healthcare facility (i.e. hospital, blood
center, dialysis, long term care) to request additional resources to support emergency response. If an
organization has exhausted all channels of existing resources, then contact your county office of emergency
management (EM) Duty Officer. Following the proper request process assures the right resources reach your
facility in the most efficient timeframe. Documentation for resource requesting is the responsibility of the
healthcare facility making the initial need request and should be started as soon as the need arises, regardless if
the county EOC/ECC or state EOC has been activated, as either can take time to activate. Early documentation is
key to being well prepared. Please refer to this progressive process as you consider your facility’s need for
additional resources.
Figure 1. Overview of resource request process. Once a healthcare facility has exhausted all sources of assistance (internal resources,
parent organization, vender agreements, and MOUs), requests are put through the county EOC/ECC, if it has been activated. If the
county EOC/ECC cannot meet needs, then they will put requests to the state EOC, if it has been activated. If the emergency is
declared a national emergency, federal EOC assistance may be requested by the state EOC.
When calling EM, describe the need you have, not the specific resource. Describing your resource need will
assist EM in determining the best supply match, as EM has the ability to mobilize a broad array of resources you
may be unaware of. It is critical to discuss reimbursement expectations prior to accepting services and
resources. It is the responsibility of the requesting organization to discuss reimbursement.
[email protected]
srhd.org/HCC
Critical Healthcare Facility: Medical Resource Request Overview
Progressive order of actions
1. If you exhaust and diminish your existing resources at your facility.
2. Locate resources you can access directly, including Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). The
following is a list of suggested contacts:
o Your corporate affiliation may be able to assist
o Vendors may keep reserve or surplus equipment and supplies in stock
o Partner agencies in your county, service area and region
o Use WATrac to locate hospital capabilities, surgical specialties and/or bed types
o Public health has direct access to a variety of resources (masks, antivirals, etc.)
o Region 9 Healthcare Coalition can assist
3. As all direct-access resources are being exhausted, contact your county office of emergency
management. DO NOT wait until you run out of supplies or have an immediate need for equipment.
Constant evaluation of future needs and early intervention at the Emergency Management and R9 HCC
level is critical to insure you receive support in a timely manner.
4. Local Emergency Management can assist in acquiring resources from regional, state and federal
agencies, including Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF-8) related requests. Some requests may best be
supported if a disaster declaration (local and/or state) is made, while others may be accessed via mutual
aid agreements (existing or just in time) based on specified need. Your local Emergency Management
can advise how to specifically meet your needs.
o It is important to use appropriate documentation throughout the whole resource requesting
process for potential reimbursement.
Proper emergency preparedness planning improves your organization’s ability to respond during an emergency
and to remain in operation. Pre-incident agreements among all parties providing or requesting resources are
necessary to enable effective and efficient resource management during incident operations.
County Office of Emergency
Duty Officer Contact Information
Management
Cell Phone
Adams County
Asotin County
Columbia County
Colville Confederated Tribes
Ferry County
Garfield County
Kalispel Tribe
Lincoln County
Pend Oreille County
Spokane County
Stevens County
Whitman County
[email protected]
24/7 contact: 509-488-2061
24/7 contact: 509-243-2088
509-382-2518
24/7 contact: 509-634-2474
254-387-9543
509-843-1533
509-445-1785
24/7 contact: 509-725-3501
509-447-3731
24/7 contact: 509-477-4209; Pager: 0822; To leave a message for the
Duty Officer call Sheriff’s Dispatch: 509-532-8931 and ask them to page
the Emergency Management Duty Officer, include a short message, such
as “Please call (Name), (Agency), (Contact Number).”
(509) 684-2555; Steven's Co dispatch or 509-684-5296 Stevens Co Office
509-397-5647
srhd.org/HCC