AUBURN – “Are Maine’s Hospitals and Community Partners Prepared to Care for a Large Influx of Sick or Injured Patients?” will be the topic of a session set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the Fireside Inn, 1777 Washington St.

The Central Maine Regional Resource Center, one of three regional state emergency planning agencies, will host a simulation exercise designed to allow hospitals, first responders and other organizations to discuss and test plans for providing essential healthcare services in the event of a disaster such as an influenza pandemic.

The program will address the following: plans to maintain continuity of care if the number of patients requiring medical attention exceeds available resources; identifying the community resources that can be used to maintain patient care services during a disaster.

Also, defining triggers for initiating changes to standard operating procedures, identifying potential areas of inter-agency collaboration and strategies for resource sharing; coordinating across various government levels to ensure an effective response during an emergency; and practical, ethical and legal issues that may arise if usual standards of care must be altered

The program is open to hospital personnel, including administration, security, emergency management, infection control and communications; hospital-based clinicians; emergency medical services providers; community-based health centers and clinics; law enforcement; and long-term care facilities.

For more information and to register, go to www.mcph.org or call the Central Maine Regional Resource Center at 795-2962.