
The Start is the Hardest Part: Creating Engaging Exercises to Reenergize Your Incident Command Team (Train the Trainer)
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The first 30 minutes sets the tone for a response. Now, after Incident Command Teams have adapted to a modified command structure to accommodate an extended, large-scale response, they need to shift focus to the strategies and tactics of responding to a more immediate, short-term event.
This session is designed to train you to develop and facilitate engaging, efficient exercises that will train your Incident Command Team to get the response started.
About the Presenters:
Jenny Schmitz, MA, MEP
Jenny Schmitz is the Vice President of All Clear Emergency Management Group, LLC., where she is works to advance the preparedness level and response capability in all facets of the healthcare industry. Prior to joining the All Clear team in January 2016, she served as the Director of Safety and the Environment of Care at Denver Health and Hospital Authority in Denver, CO. In this role, she was both the Safety Officer and Chair of the Environment of Care Committee, and she managed all the emergency preparedness and response planning activities for the organization. This experience provided her the opportunity to increase her knowledge of hospital operations and hone her skills in healthcare preparedness, response, and exercise design.
Ms. Schmitz received her Master’s Degree in International Studies (with concentrations in Global Health and International Security) from the University of Denver (Denver, CO) and her B.A. in International Studies from St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, MN). She is a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) and a Healthcare Environmental Manager (HEM). She also served as the Safety Officer on the Colorado-3 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT).
Elaina Huffman, MPS
Elaina Huffman is a Planning Specialist with All Clear Emergency Management Group where she leads All Clear’s Preparedness Product Division and Internship Program. Layered by enthusiasm, real world experience, post-graduate education, and the thrill of trailblazing, Ms. Huffman is known for creating innovative, interactive products and solutions which support the emergency preparedness needs of All Clear’s clients.
Elaina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and United States Global Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Homeland Security and Public Health Preparedness through the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining All Clear, Elaina held various Planning and Operational roles with North Carolina’s Healthcare Coalitions which afforded her over a decade of involvement in exercise design, healthcare emergency preparedness, and disaster response.