A regional trauma organization as a coordinating body for a regional pandemic response: A brief report.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019-2020 had a substantial impact on the healthcare resources of the world community. An organized regional response was essential to saving lives, preserving and distributing health care resources, and coordinating health care efforts. This brief report describes how a long-established regional trauma organization (RTO) provided that coordination in Central, Southeast, and Southeast Central Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operation continued care: A large mass-casualty, full-scale exercise as a test of regional preparedness.

Background: Our regional trauma organization, which comprises 7 trauma centers, 30 acute care hospitals and free-standing emergency departments, and 42 emergency medical services agencies, conducted possibly the largest mass-casualty drill to date, totaling 445 victims at 3 sites involving 11 hospitals and 25 agencies and organizations.

Methods: The drill was preceded by a tabletop exercise 4 months beforehand called Operation Continued Care Full-Scale Exercise, which consisted of simulated terrorist events at 3 sites to wound 445 moulaged patients. Four law enforcement and 5 fire and emergency medical services departments and 16 supporting organizations and agencies were involved in transporting patients to 11 different hospitals.