Once an initial plan has been developed, it must be tested by tabletop exercise attended by local planners.
1. Educate and train all the planners on the initial plan
The workgroup that was convened to develop the plan will need to identify additional
stakeholders who need to be aware of the plan at this stage of development. All
organizations or people representing responding agencies affected by the plan
will need to be invited and briefed to participate in the testing of the initial
plan.
2. Test the initial plan
The workgroup that developed the plan and other key responders will come together
to test the plan via a tabletop exercise that was developed specifically for
each pilot community testing the uniqueness of their medical surge plan. This
tabletop exercise will use a pandemic influenza scenario and will be supported
through NMDOH BHEM. Consideration should be given to invite community members
to participate in the tabletop to begin the input/engagement process of the broader
community.
3. Debrief the exercise
Participants in the tabletop exercise debrief the experience to identify what
worked and what needs improvement or changed. This debrief provides valuable
information to improve the adequacy of the plan.
4. Develop After Action Report (AAR) documenting debriefing process
An After Action Report is developed to document the experience and to identify
recommended improvements that need to be made to the plan. AAR development will
be supported through NMDOH BHEM.
5. Receive input from community members.
It is important to engage members of the community at this point and before finalization
to provide feedback on the medical surge plan. Community input (outside of the
planning workgroup) before finalization is important to surface concerns and
to consider new ideas in the plan.
6. Finalize the plan.
The workgroup that developed the plan and tested the plan will identify the revisions
or modifications that are needed based on the debriefing process, community feedback
and documented in the after action report. Those revisions are made and incorporated
into the plan. The final community medical surge response plan is developed!
