IHA has worked with member hospitals and coordinating work group project to support enhanced active shooter planning, training and exercise activities by identifying best practices, sharing lessons learned and developing supportive resources.
In 2014, IHA and Oswego Health coordinated a work group project to develop an active shooter plan template. IHA developed further guidance outlining critical planning and response considerations based on work group discussions, law enforcement recommendations, and after action reviews. Hospitals were reimbursed $4,500 through their HPP contract for adopting an active shooter plan.
Based on discussions of the 2013-14 work group and best practices, IHA developed a document outlining key planning considerations for developing active shooter plans. The document was updated in 2018 to reflect guidance issued by HHS ASPR. This document is also available to members by contacting Andrew Nault.
In 2019-20, IHA and Cayuga Medical Center led a work group to identify best practices and share lessons learned for conducting training and exercises.
IHA members may contact Andrew Nault for a copy of the documents referenced above.
Below are several key resources for hospital active shooter planning:
- Active Shooter Planning & Response in a Healthcare Setting – Comprehensive planning guidance developed by ASPR’s Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council in 2017. The guidance incorporates unique aspects of the health care setting and special considerations such as operating rooms, neonatal units, medical gases, and providing care in an area wherein a potential threat exists. Appendix A (p.92) provides an active shooter policy template.
- Incorporating Active Shooter Incident Planning into Healthcare Facility Emergency Operations Plans This document, developed in 2014 by ASPR and other federal agencies, discusses challenges faced by healthcare facilities in planning and responding to an active shooter incident and addresses considerations for risk assessment, planning with law enforcement, training, and incident response.
- Planning and Response to an Active Shooter: An Interagency Security Committee Policy and Best Practices Guide – The Department of Homeland Security developed this guidance and policy document in 2015 for federal facilities. Its preparedness, training, response and recovery recommendations may be referenced and incorporated by healthcare facilities as well.
- Active Shooter Exercise Development Manual – A workshop manual by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services (TEEX) for developing Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) compliant Table Top Exercises (TTX) to test active shooter plans.
