Why it matters: Mass casualty incidents require split-second decisions and seamless coordination. At University of Utah Health, emergency teams regularly practice these high-pressure scenarios to ensure readiness when real disasters strike.
The scenario: “Bus crash. Multiple patients. No numbers yet.” With this alert, Dr. J.R. Pickett and the emergency department team launched into action during a recent mass casualty drill.
The simulation tested the team’s ability to handle a sudden influx of patients with a deliberately lean staff – no residents or trauma residents available, just attendings, nurses, and medics covering every critical role.
By the numbers:
- 60 patients processed in one hour
- Real emergency patients still receiving care simultaneously
- Multiple trauma patients immediately directed to trauma bay
Behind the scenes: Dr. Pickett says the “nerve center” becomes the command post during these events, tracking patients coming in and leaving while maintaining awareness of the overall patient count.
The team’s focus remains dual-purposed during these drills:
- Efficiently managing the mass casualty response
- Ensuring standard care continues for actual emergency patients
The bottom line: These regular drills ensure that when real disasters happen, Utah’s emergency departments can respond with practiced precision, potentially saving countless lives when minutes matter most.