Knox County (TN) Health Department and the East Tennessee Regional Health Office conducted one of the largest hospitals exercises in Tennessee on Nov. 6. Fifty-four hospitals in East Tennessee participated in the drill to test how they would handle a 20 percent surge of their emergency room capacities. This drill was the first time that regional hospital coordinators and emergency preparedness staff from neighboring counties participated in a drill with the Knox County Health Department and the East Tennessee Regional Health Office. Participants learned how quickly they could get extra support to the area if needed. Read more about the mass casualty response exercise in Tennessee.
Learn how to create a partnership between your public health agency and area hospitals with this tipsheet from the Montgomery County Advanced Practice Center.