Strengthening DC’s Emergency Readiness: 2025 Annual Medical Response and Surge Exercise
On April 4, 2025, the DC Hospital Association proudly joined members of the DC health care community in the 2025 Annual Medical Response and Surge Exercise (MRSE). Hosted by the DC Health and Medical Coalition under the Hospital Preparedness Program Grant, the MRSE serves as a vital, annual opportunity to evaluate and strengthen our collective emergency response capabilities.
This year’s exercise simulated a mass casualty event stemming from a coordinated attack during World Pride, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. this June. The realistic scenario tested the region’s ability to manage a sudden influx of patients, coordinate communications, and provide critical care under pressure.
Participants included a broad spectrum of health care stakeholders— DC Health, hospitals, long-term care and ambulatory providers, DC Fire and EMS, the DC Primary Care Association, and others. Their joint involvement demonstrated the power of collaboration and coordination across the District’s health care infrastructure during high-stress emergency situations.
Key information systems were tested during the MRSE:
- Hospital Mutual Aid Radio System (HMARS) for inter-facility communication
- Everbridge for rapid incident notification and situational updates
- CRISP DC for family reunification and patient tracking
- Juvare EMResource for real-time data collection and resource status reporting
The MRSE highlighted not only the technological readiness of DC’s health care system, but also the preparedness of its people. Exercises like these are critical in ensuring that staff and leadership at every level of the health care continuum are trained and ready to respond when it matters most.
As DC prepares to welcome global visitors for World Pride this summer, the lessons learned and strengths demonstrated during the MRSE affirm our shared commitment to the health and safety of all who live, work, and celebrate in the nation’s capital.
