This pre-course is offered in a live one-day format on Thursday 24 September 2026, 08:30 – 17:00 at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, Paris, France

This precourse prepares participants for the main course by providing an overview of hospital disaster preparedness and the interaction between strategic, tactical and operational levels. Emphasis is placed on coordinated decision-making, roles, and responsibilities during major incidents and crises.

After completing the precourse, participants will be able to:

• Explain the core principles of hospital disaster preparedness.
• Describe the differences and interdependencies between strategic, tactical, and       operational levels.
• Identify key roles and responsibilities at each level.
• Recognise common challenges in communication and coordination during hospital crises.

• Presentations: theory focused on the topic (see table)
• Simulation based tool: Emergo Train System.

As part of the hospital’s preparedness for major incidents and disasters, a multidisciplinary exercise will be conducted. The purpose of this exercise is to evaluate and strengthen coordination, communication, and collaboration between key hospital departments involved in emergency and crisis response.

The following departments will participate in the exercise:

• Triage
• Emergency Department
• Intensive Care Unit
• Operation Room
• Inpatient Ward

During the exercise, the integrated response to a simulated incident will be practiced, with particular attention to patient flow, capacity management, continuity of care, and interdepartmental decision-making. The exercise will help identify strengths and areas for improvement within the multidisciplinary response and will contribute to the further development and optimisation of the hospital disaster plan.

Christel Hendrickx, BE (course director)

• Georgios Leledakis, DE
• Patricia Pires, PT
• Izaskun Tellitu, SP
• Yolanda Villalon, SP
• Saleyha Ahsan, UK
• Sharon Chekijian, US
• Fatine Hamza, FR

Online educational material will be provided to the participants in advance

Course format and pedagogical methods (Aftermath discussion)

• Well balanced and consistently supported by a valid scientific evidence base
• Available for discussion, questions & answers and learner engagement
• Innovative elements

Performance indicators: this refers how learning is measured, not how it is taught. It involves:

• Clear criteria or indicators (e.g. accuracy, speed, quality, application)
• Benchmarks
• Observations of performance or outcomes

The price for this course is € 350 (including 10% VAT).

Please register through your MyEUSEM account by clicking on the EUSEM Congress registration button. From the Pre-courses tab you can select the pre-courses you would like to join.

REGISTER FOR THIS PRE-COURSE