Published on December 08, 2025

Concord Hospital Health System Conducts Its Largest Multi-Site Mass Casualty Incident Drill to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness

CONCORD, NH – Concord Hospital Health System conducted its largest-ever mass casualty incident (MCI) drill on Thursday, December 4, bringing together clinical and non-clinical teams across four locations: Concord Hospital, Concord Hospital – Franklin, Concord Hospital – Laconia, and CH Medical Offices at Horseshoe Pond. The coordinated, system-wide exercise was designed to test and strengthen the organization’s readiness to respond to large-scale emergencies.

Simulated patient is triaged during mass casualty incident drill

The drill simulated an influx of 46 patients within one hour, all while real patients continued to receive care in the emergency departments. The scenario brought together emergency management staff, frontline clinicians, hospital leadership, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel from across the region.

Participants in the Capital Region included EMS crews from Chichester, Concord, Hooksett, Loudon, Pittsfield, and Stewart’s Ambulance Service. Additionally, EMS crew participants in the Lakes Region included Andover, Franklin Fire, Gilford Fire, Laconia Fire, New London, Sanbornton Fire, and Stewart’s Ambulance Service.

“This was the largest exercise our system has ever taken on together,” said Director of Safety and Emergency Preparedness Mike Melody. “To admit 46 simulated patients in under an hour, while also treating real patients, is an extraordinary accomplishment. What stood out most were the decreased noise levels, calm communication, and clear role assignments among emergency department staff. That level of professionalism under pressure is exactly what these drills are designed to reinforce.”

Michael Langille and Zach Ernst from the Concord Fire Department brief Concord Hospital staff on a simulated patient’s condition during a mass casualty incident drill

The drill aligned with Concord Hospital Health System’s ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness as outlined in its system-wide MCI planning framework. Key focus areas included patient triage, treatment, and flow; interdepartmental and inter-facility communication; coordination between clinical and non-clinical teams; and implementation of incident command procedures.

While the simulation concentrated heavily on the emergency department and operating room surge capacity, every department across the system played a role, reflecting the organization’s philosophy that preparedness requires whole-hospital engagement.

Following the exercise, Dr. Nick Larochelle, one of the major planners, offered words of reassurance to staff who participated.

“As someone who lives in this community, I feel confident that if something of a large scale happened, you’d take care of it effectively.”

Participants move a simulated patient from an ambulance gurney onto a hospital bed at Concord Hospital

The next phase of the project includes forming multiple working groups to review performance, identify improvement opportunities, and develop targeted educational engagements for staff beginning in May 2026. These sessions will help refine the health system’s emergency response capabilities and ensure that lessons learned are translated into actionable system-wide improvements.

“Our teams showed incredible readiness and resilience,” Melody added. “Now we take what we learned and push ourselves even further. That’s how we ensure that if a real mass casualty event ever occurs, our community will be in capable, prepared hands.”