SICP Position Statement: Emergency Disaster Preparedness of the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) and the Soc

All health care professionals play an extremely important role in disaster preparedness and response. A disaster may be defined as any event which adversely affects the activities of daily living of the entire community and normal operation of the healthcare facility. These emergencies may include (but are not limited to) natural disasters, biological epidemic or bioterrorism, chemical spills, radiation exposures, and attack by a foreign nation or terrorist group. The RCIS, and all members of the SICP, participate as a health care providers in their local healthcare facility, community, and national disaster response system. As cardiac care professionals, our members are trained in basic and advanced cardiovascular life support, and may be assigned to a variety of critical care or triage areas based on institutional or community need. It is the responsibility of each individual to follow their institution's specific disaster plane. All personnel on duty at the time of a disaster are expected to remain on duty until released by their hospital. SICP Professional Standards Committee, November 2006

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