Regional ICS Drill a Success

The Incident Command System (ICS) has played an important role in the response to H1N1 nationwide. This tactic helped a local health department in implementing an efficient vaccine clinic while reinforcing community partnerships.

On March 6, 2010, the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Connecticut participated in a regional exercise at the Region 4 vaccination clinic, which included participation from various local health departments, the Mohegan Tribe, and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction. The purpose of the drill clinic was to reinforce ICS, the coordination of resources, and reinforcement of the regional plan. This was the first time all the health departments and the MRC worked together as a region.

The clinic lasted three hours, and 100 citizens were vaccinated, with the help of 27 participants. MRC volunteer vaccinators and assistants from LLHD, Northeast District Health Department, and the Uncas Health Department attended the clinic.

"The drill was a success because it allowed the LLHD MRC volunteers to observe ICS in action and meet regional partners to see what different best practices were being used,” said MRC Coordinator, Kris Magnussen, RN-BC, MSN, LLHD. The LLHD MRC plans to conduct and participate in future exercises in the region.