Healthcare preparedness grows stronger when hospitals and community partners train together. A recent partnership between North Knoxville Medical Center and Powell High School put that approach into practice through a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) exercise.
The exercise gave hospital staff an opportunity to practice receiving, assessing, treating, and managing multiple simulated patients during a large-scale emergency. It also offered students a firsthand look at emergency healthcare response and the teamwork required to care for patients under challenging conditions.
Powell High School helped bring the scenario to life by providing patient condition cards and simulated patients with moulageā€”makeup used to recreate injuries. These elements added realism and helped hospital staff practice responding to patients with different care needs.
Beyond testing emergency plans and procedures, the exercise connected students with healthcare professionals and introduced them to potential careers in nursing, medicine, EMS, emergency management, and other healthcare fields.
This partnership demonstrates how community outreach, education, and emergency preparedness can work together to strengthen regional readiness while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The Knox/East Tennessee Healthcare Coalition thanks North Knoxville Medical Center and Powell High School for their commitment to preparedness, student learning, and a more resilient community.