Hospital Net Coordinator - DRAFT Position Duties and Responsibilities

Acronyms Used

• HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a law designed to protect sensitive patient health information and ensure privacy in healthcare transactions.
• SCCHEPP - Santa Clara County Hospital Emergency Preparedness Partners is a group of Emergency Managers from each hospital; representatives from the Hospital Council, EMS, and other organization supporting hospitals that meet monhtly to work on emergency preparedness. A representative from SCC ARES/RACES/ACS also attends.
• MAC - Mutual Aid Communicator
• PHDOC - Public Health Department Operations Center

Background

The Hospital Net Coordinator reports to the DEC/CRO and is the interface between County ARES/RACES/ACS and hospitals located within the county. The coordinator’s role is to work with ECs, hospital Radio Operators, and hospital Emergency Managers to ensure their needs are met as it relates to providing backup emergency communications to the hospitals when needed.

Hospitals are vital parts of our community. They have a high priority for communications support. Mass casualty incidents and area-wide disasters are not the only situations in which back-up communications are needed for hospitals. Any telephone system failure in a hospital is a disaster too; the potential for serious consequences to patients is high.

When patient care is at stake, hospitals need every resource possible. Amateur Radio can be a vital resource, provided that hams prepare and train thoroughly.

Requirements

• Hold a minimum of an N2 and F2 credential, and a MAC endorsement.
• Have experience working as a radio operator at one or more of the hospitals located within the county.
• Have broad experience with Outpost and PacketItForms.
• Be familiar with HIPPA requirements as it relates to message passing.

Duties and Expectations

• Attend the monthly SCCHEPP meeting as a county ARES/RACES/ACS representative.
• Develop good working relationships with the hospital Emergency Managers and their staff who attend the SCCHEPP meetings.
• Coordinate the monthly Hospital Net to ensure all hospitals and the PHDOC have coverage for each net.
• Assist ECs with finding qualified operators to staff hospitals and the PHDOC.
• Assist ECs to report and resolve equipment or operational issues at the hospitals.
• Encourage hospital radio operators to get the appropirate training and earn a minimum of an F3 and N3 credential, and a MAC endorsement.
• Provide periodic updates to the County ARES/RACES/ACS Leadership team.