Valued Voice

Annually, recipients of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Grant participate in the Medical Response Surge Exercise (MRSE). The MRSE uses a surge scenario to help the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Office of Preparedness and Emergency Health Care, Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalitions (HERCs) and their local partners assess how well they can plan, collaborate and operationally coordinate in response to a relevant and realistic health care emergency or disaster. It is designed to test a HERC's functional surge capacity, validate plans, identify gaps in surge planning and strengthen partnerships. Participants must work together with the HERC, fellow health care partners and other partners to manage a medical surge representing at least 10% of the HERC's licensed general medical/surgical patient bed capacity by determining the availability and access to all required patient beds, personnel and resources.

One of the core performance measures is to calculate the number of health care partners with at least one executive participating in the MRSE After-Action Review. There are six exercises scheduled throughout the state March 3 through June 30, 2025. These exercises are important opportunities that help hospitals and their emergency partners practice so they can capably handle emergencies that lead to surges in patient care levels caused by events like the COVID-19 pandemic or more localized mass casualty events like large-scale car accidents. If you'd like more information about how you can be involved in your regional MRSE or After-Action Review, please reach out to your hospital Emergency Preparedness Specialist or visit HERC Contact Information | Wisconsin Department of Health Services to find the contact for your regional HERC Program Coordinator.

You may also contact WHA Senior Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice Ann Zenk or Vice President of Federal and State Relations Jon Hoelter with questions.