FAIRFIELD — Forty-eight employees from several Sutter Health affiliates have trained to provide medical emergency response to disasters.

They learned ways to respond to natural disasters, terrorism and hazardous material accidents. They completed the Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Ala., in late August.

Fairfield resident and Sutter Health spokesman Sy Neilson described the training.

“It started out with two days of education and training, then table-top discussions about disaster situations and how you would respond,” Neilson said in a press release. “Then the real work comes with two days of intense, lifelike drills — the best way to describe it is if Universal Studios had a hospital disaster experience.

“They push your critical thinking abilities to the limit by overloading the system, withholding the resources you need and then watching how you respond. After the drills you discuss what worked well, what didn’t and what you plan to implement when you go back home. It’s a very worthwhile training for anyone who might respond to a disaster situation.”

Staff came from Sutter Solano Medical Center, as well as Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health, Memorial Hospital, Mills Peninsula, Novato Community Hospital, Sutter Amador, Sutter Auburn Faith, Sutter Coast, Sutter Health corporate, Sutter Medical Center Sacramento and Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929, or [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.