OUR MISSION

The Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC) is the preparedness committee of SETRAC with the mission of providing collaborative planning and response to emergencies, in a multi-disciplinary approach, and to preserve the medical infrastructure of the region.

ABOUT RHPC

The RHPC is divided into five corridors, served by a Chair and Vice-Chair. A major component of the response is the Catastrophic Medical Operations Center (CMOC). The CMOC is an industry recognized best practice for ensuring resiliency of the regional healthcare infrastructure by a multi-disciplinary group. At the request of a jurisdictional authority, CMOC will activate according to the current Regional Emergency Preparedness Plan that is on file at the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management.

Chair

Kevin Schulz, MD, FAEMS, FACEP

LBJ Hospital
Houston Fire Department

Co-Chair

Toni Carnie

HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball

Sub-Committees

Meeting Schedule

DateTimeLocation
January 5, 2024
1:30 to 3:30 pm
SETRAC Conference Center
1111 North Loop West, Suite 160
Houston, Texas 77008
March 1, 2024
1:30 to 3:30 pmSETRAC Conference Center
1111 North Loop West, Suite 160
Houston, Texas 77008
May 3, 2024
1:30 to 3:30 pmSETRAC Conference Center
1111 North Loop West, Suite 160
Houston, Texas 77008
July 12, 20241:30 to 3:30 pmSETRAC Conference Center
1111 North Loop West, Suite 160
Houston, Texas 77008
October 16-1815th Annual Preparedness Symposium
San Luis Convention Center
Galveston, Texas
November 1, 2024
1:30 to 3:30 pmSETRAC Conference Center
1111 North Loop West, Suite 160
Houston, Texas 77008

History of the RHPC

1997 – Houston named one of the first 4 MMRS (Metropolitan Medical Response System) cities in the nation
The HRG (Hospital Receiving Group) is formed with the “big 8” hospitals in Houston

2001 – Tropical Storm Allison and 9-11 spurs growth that creates HAHEMC (Houston Area Hospital Emergency Management Collaborative)

2002 – The Regional Emergency and Hospital Preparedness Council is formed

2005 – Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita prompts the development of the Disaster Unified Medical Command, later renamed the Catastrophic Medical Operations Center.

2012 – RHPC integrates with the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) becoming the preparedness committee of SETRAC. The Regional Hospital Preparedness Council becomes the Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition.

2017 – When Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas Aug. 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane.

2019 – Tropical Storm Imelda was the fifth-wettest tropical cyclone on record in the continental United States, causing devastating and record-breaking floods in southeast Texas.