Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP)

Medical Surge Capacity and Capability Handbook [PDF - 2.98 MB]

Medical and health systems in the United States face the increasing probability of major emergencies or disasters involving human casualties. Such events will severely challenge our ability to adequately care for large numbers of patients (surge capacity) with those patients with unusual or highly specialized medical needs (surge capability).

The first step to address medical surge is using management systems for medical and health response to major emergencies and disasters, along with developing and maintaining preparedness programs.

The Medical Surge Capacity and Capability (MSSC) Handbook is based on valid principles of emergency management and the Incident Management System (IMS). Medical and health systems may use the handbook's management principles to coordinate effectively with one another, and to integrate with response organizations that have established IMS and emergency management systems (fire service, law enforcement, etc.).

The handbook helps promote a common management system for all response operations - public and private-that may be involved in major emergencies. In addition, the MSCC Management System will guide a health and medical response development consistent with the new National Incident Management System.