Executive Council

The Executive Council serves as the governing body of the Healthcare Coalition. The Council's purpose is to provide leadership for the Coalition, to represent the Coalition in community emergency planning and response, and to ensure that all Coalition members have the opportunity to participate in coordinated, integrated emergency planning and response efforts.

The Executive Council is designed to be a representative body that reflects the different sectors of the health care system. Council members are selected by sectors to fill specific positions, e.g. hospitals, medical groups, safety net providers. Sectors may elect, appoint, or rotate their representatives. The following information outlines very specific guidelines for the governance of the King County Healthcare Coalition that can be used as a sample when structuring your own Coalition.

During emergencies the Executive Council

• Represents the Healthcare Coalition in the ESF 8 MAC Group.
• Advises the Local Health Officer, in coordination with other MAC Groups participants, on emergency health policy matters.
• Identifies and addresses issues to improve the ability of the healthcare organizations to respond to the emergency.

Governance Roles

1. To provide guidance over the development of the Healthcare Coalition
2. Establish a mission and strategic direction.
3. Determine the Coalition's legal structure and organizational structure.
4. Determine the scope of services that the Coalition provides.
5. Approve the Coalition budget.

Preparedness Roles

1. Establish preparedness planning priorities.
2. Provide policy level oversight of the Coalition's committees, workgroups, and projects.
3. Approve regional and health sector emergency preparedness plans.
4. Identify and address issues to improve the ability of healthcare organizations to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Response Roles:

1. Represents the Healthcare Coalition in the ESF 8 Multi Agency Coordinating Group
2. Advises the Local Health Officer, in coordination with other MAC Group participants, on emergency health policy matters.
3. Advise public officials on emergency health policy matters.
4. Identify and address issues to improve the ability of healthcare organizations to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
5. Participate in Executive Council conference calls and face-to-face meetings as needed during emergency responses.

Representative Responsibilities

1. Attend and participate actively in all meetings of the Executive Council.
2. Review materials that are prepared for the Executive Council meetings.
3. Consider the needs of the entire community in Council deliberations.
4. Obtain input from other Coalition members from represented healthcare sector on planning and response priorities.
5. Provide Coalition staff feedback on Coalition operations and planning.

Structure

The Council is designed to be a representative body that reflects the different sectors of the healthcare system. Council representatives will be selected by sectors to fill 15 seats for 2-year terms. Sectors may rotate their representatives.

Officers

The Executive Council will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair. The Chair presides over meetings of the Executive Council and general Coalition membership meetings, and represents the Coalition as needed. The Vice-Chair serves in the absence of the Chair and represents the Coalition as needed. Officers will serve 2-year terms.

Meetings

The Executive Council will convene quarterly.