Disaster Preparedness

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HCNO leads the Northwest Healthcare Coalition (NWHCC), uniting hospitals, public health agencies, emergency management, and emergency medical services across 18 counties.
Together, we are committed to building community resilience — working to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from serious threats.
Whether it’s a pandemic, natural disaster, chemical spill, cyberattack, or another hazard, HCNO is committed to ensuring our region has the people, plans, and partnerships needed for an effective response.
We invite partners to join the Northwest Healthcare Coalition, take part in training opportunities, and collaborate with us to strengthen resilience across Northwest Ohio.
Disasters Don’t Wait
Guided by the National Preparedness Goal
Our coalition strengthens regional preparedness at every level. We coordinate readiness efforts among 31 hospitals and dozens of partners to ensure a unified emergency response.
We also develop and maintain shared guidance — including objective, ethical, and legally sound crisis standards of care. Originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic, these standards remain applicable to all types of emergencies.

Our Services

Bed Availability Platform (EMResource)
ODH provides a Bed Availability Platform (BAP, also known as Juvare EMResource) for healthcare facilities to submit bed availability information and indicators as operationally required. During times of increased healthcare activity, ODH and the Regional Healthcare Coordinator (RHC) may request submission of ad hoc or standing situation reports and determine the method and cadence of submission.
EMResource is a web-enabled platform for reporting bed availability, capacities, emergency department status, and emergency operational indicators. Hospitals and Free-Standing Emergency Departments (FSEDs) report into the platform daily. The platform has Events that drive data collection, such as MCI and Inclement Weather Facility Situation Reports. EMResource is available on the web, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
Data may be automated from a facility or health system through an Application Programming Interface (API), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), and Automated Data Uploader (ADU). Connections are made from the hospital/health system to Juvare via a one-way submission. This process automates bed reporting and National Healthcare Safety Network submissions. Facilities interested in automation may email bap@odh.ohio.gov for further information.

EMTrack (State’s patient tracking system)
EMTrack is a web-enabled platform for tracking patients, primarily during Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs) and facility evacuations. Incidents and patient tracking can begin in the field by EMS users through the mobile app. This Protected Health Information-compliant product supports Identification Card scanning and importing into the patient record, and the use of 2D, 3D and QR codes. EMTrack is available on the web, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
All short-term, critical access, children’s, and long-term hospitals, as well as all free-standing emergency departments (FSEDs) must report in the PTP/EMTrack upon recognition of a mass casualty incident, facility evacuation, or other event requiring patient tracking.
All drills and real-world incidents must have a corresponding EMResource event to alert facilities that patient tracking is needed. EMResource Events should be started by the RHC/designee upon notification of the event. Alerts must be enabled for all real-world and planned events. This allows for notifications to ODH staff (to update ERFs, identify patients that appear in real-world incidents during the same time), trains RHC/designee staff on starting an event, and ensures hospital/FSEDs know what types of notifications they may see when patient tracking has been started.
Our coalition strengthens regional preparedness at every level. We coordinate readiness efforts among 31 hospitals and dozens of partners to ensure a unified emergency response.
We also develop and maintain shared guidance — including objective, ethical, and legally sound crisis standards of care. Originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic, these standards remain applicable to all types of emergencies.
Training


Upcoming Coalition Meetings
Monday, December 8, 2025 - 12:30 pm - In-person - TBA
Monday, February 9, 2026 -1:00 pm - Virtual
Monday, May 11, 2026 - 1:00 pm - Virtual

Be Prepared
At the heart of preparedness is connection. Knowing who to call — and having those relationships built before a crisis — is the most vital component of an effective response. Our coalition fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, helping partners build trust, share expertise, and coordinate swiftly when emergencies arise.
Contact our team to get connected and to be added to the disaster planning listserv today.
Contact:
Susan Murphy
Disaster & Trauma Manager
Cell: 419-262-2292
Work: 419-517-8312
Email: smurphy@hcno.org
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