PULSE Magazine | February 2020 Issue

Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC) is mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to serve our 11 county region, also known as Trauma Service Area O (TSA -O). Our objective is to reduce the incidence of trauma, acute illness, and injury through education, data collection/analysis, disaster preparedness, and performance improvement. CATRAC is comprised of representatives from hospitals, EMS agencies, fire departments, first responders, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare and emergency preparedness related agencies. Regions served: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, San Saba, Travis, and Williamson Counties

Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services took part in a full-scale exercise was facilitated by the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC) this month. ATCEMS AMBUS was on scene participating in multiple regional disaster preparedness exercises. This exercise included a command element in the EOC, to test medical surge, disaster plans, and coordination of regional response with multiple agencies.

This exercise included a full scale simulated scenario consisting of a large crowd mass casualty event taking place in Austin, Texas . The scenario challenged hospitals with an influx of patients that triggered the need for healthcare facilities to institute their internal disaster plans, the activation and coordination of the regional medical operations coordination group, and response to a medical surge of patients. During the exercise the Ambus transported 39 simulated trauma patients to three different regional hos- pitals including St. David's South Austin Medical Center , Ascension Seton Williamson, and Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas.

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