MHOAC and Situation Reporting

Defining “MHOAC”

  • MHOAC – Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator
  • The MHOAC is the key contact for local, regional, and State agencies for reporting status and requesting resources (that are not available by normal means)
  • The MHOAC is a role, not an individual. The individual fulfilling the MHOAC role may change from time to time. Following the specified communication process will ensure you reach the MHOAC.

The MHOAC Program

California Health and Safety Code Section 1797.153
“In each operational area the county health officer and the local EMS agency administrator may act jointly as the medical health operational area coordinator (MHOAC)…. If an operational area has a MHOAC, the MHOAC in cooperation with the county office of emergency services, local public health department, the local office of environmental health, the local department of mental health, the local EMS agency, the local fire department, the regional disaster and medical health coordinator (RDMHC), and the regional office of the Office of Emergency Services, shall be responsible for ensuring the development of a medical and health disaster plan for the operational area.”

17 Functions of the MHOAC Program

  • Assessment of immediate medical needs
  • Coordination of disaster medical & health resources
  • Coordination of patient distribution & medical evaluations
  • Coordination with inpatient & emergency care providers
  • Coordination with out-of-hospital medical care providers
  • Coordination & integration with fire agencies personnel, resources & emergency fire pre-hospital medical services
  • Coordination of providers of non-fire based pre-hospital emergency medical services
  • Coordination of the establishment of temporary field treatment sites
  • Health surveillance & epidemiological analyses of community health status
  • Assurance of food safety
  • Management of exposure to hazardous agents
  • Provision of coordination of mental health services
  • Provision of medical & health public information protection action recommendations
  • Provision or coordination of vector control services
  • Assurance of drinking water safety
  • Assurance of the safe management of liquid, sold, & hazardous wastes
  • Investigation & control of communicable disease

Contacting the MHOAC

Partners are responsible for keeping the MHOAC business and after hours phone numbers on file since they are not public information and cannot be posted here. MHOAC reference cards are available at all HCSC meetings and may be requested from the Public Health Department.

Tuolumne County partners should submit a Situation Report (Sit Rep) to the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) anytime an unusual event has occurred.

Situation Reporting 

Definition of Unusual Event

  • The incident significantly impacts or is anticipated to impact public health or safety
  • The incident disrupts or is anticipated to disrupt your facility’s services and/or the Public Health and Medical system
  • Resources are needed or anticipated to be needed beyond the capabilities of the Operational Area (including those resources available through existing agreements)
  • The incident produces media attention or is politically sensitive
  • The incident leads to a Regional or State request for information, OR
  • Whenever increased information flow from the Operational Area to the State will assist in the management or mitigation of the incident’s impact

Source: EOM 2011 (Emergency Operations Manual, CDPH, EMSA)


Partners with EMResource Access

  1. If Internet is functional: Submit Situation Report through EMResource (skip to step 2 if Internet is not functional).
  2. Contact MHOAC to ensure Sit Rep was received. Phone should be the primary method, but alternative methods including radio and satellite communications devices should be used if the phone system is down.
  3. Follow instructions from MHOAC. Submit “update” and/or “final” Sit Reps as appropriate.

Link to LIVE EMResource site for health care agencies: https://emresource.juvare.com/login

Note: In the past, each healthcare organization had one login and username, which was shared among users. Juvare now requires each user to have an individual account. Contact Kris Donschikowski (kdonschikowski@co.tuolumne.ca.us) to have additional accounts created, or if you need help logging in.

Partners without EMResource Access

  1. Contact MHOAC to report unusual event. Phone should be the primary method, but alternative methods including radio and satellite communications devices should be used if the phone system is down.
  2. Follow instructions from MHOAC. You may be asked to submit a paper Flash Report or Situation Report (SitRep) via fax or email (see below for form).

Fax/Paper Situation Report

Flash Report Form

Situation Report (SitRep) Form