A full-scale exercise is as close to a real life event as possible. It is a lengthy exercise that takes place on location using, as much as possible, the equipment and personnel that would be called upon in a real event. Full-scale exercises are conducted by public agencies. They often include participation from local businesses.
A full-scale exercise differs from a functional exercise in that it may test several emergency events. For example, if the scenario is a tsunami, a functional exercise may only test how staff responds to a computer shutdown caused by a tsunami, while a full-scale exercise will test computer shutdown, power outages and generator supplies, chemical exposure, and all other events that may arise due to the tsunami. A functional exercise will only involve a designated staff group, while a full-scale exercise will involve all appropriate staff and agencies.
The major focus of a full-scale exercise is to:
- Test all parts of the system, including:
- Human resources
- Supplies
- Communications
- Transportation
- Processes and procedures
- Test coordination with agencies outside the hospital
This exercise involves:
- Individuals in every role
- Multiple observers who document resources, decisions, and assesses group interactions
- Months of planning
- Multiple organizations
Mock patients are involved in this exercise.
Full-scale exercises are usually scheduled to ensure all participants are available.
6. Augustino, Jocelyn. "Galveston Island, TX, September 18, 2008 -- Members of the Iowa-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team help to move a patient along with flight nurses and medics who will be transporting patients to hospitals that are operating outside of the area impacted by Hurricane Ike." FEMA, 18 Sept 2008, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_38464_-_DMAT_team_IOWA-1_assisting_a_resident_in_Texas.jpg.
