The hospital incident command system (HICS) is an incident command system (ICS) designed for hospitals and intended for use in both emergency and non-emergency situations. It provides hospitals of all sizes with tools needed to advance their emergency preparedness and response capability—both individually and as members of the broader response community. An ICS is designed to: be usable for managing all routine or planned events, of any size or type, by establishing a clear chain of command; allow personnel from different agencies or departments to be integrated into a common structure that can effectively address issues and delegate responsibilities; provide needed logistical and administrative support to operational personnel; and, ensure key functions are covered and eliminate duplication. Prerequisites: IS 100, 200, 700 (www.fema.gov).