Regional Medical Operations Coordination Centers (RMOCCs)

Upcoming Webinar

Webinar 7: National Disaster Medical System NDMS

Date: November 12, 2025, 5:00 pm EST

Speaker: Jeffrey Freeman (Director, NDMS Pilot Program)

The RCOT Field Program will help drive local and regional momentum around Regional Medical Operations Coordination Centers (RMOCCs). These represent a national framework with strong backing on paper, but one that still needs to come alive where it counts: in the field. RMOCCs draw on military coordination models, such as the Joint Theater Trauma System (JTTS), and have been shaped through federal emergency planning efforts. They are designed to function as regional hubs managing patient movement, coordinating resources, and connecting trauma systems, EMS, hospitals, and public health partners during both daily operations and disaster response. The ACS Committee on Trauma (COT) played a critical role in adapting this concept for civilian use and anchoring it within the proposed National Trauma and Emergency Preparedness System (NTEPS). RMOCCs were also recognized in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), with federal language directing Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) recipients to support regional coordination, giving this work a firm policy foundation.

Through the Field Program, RCOT leaders will work to turn this framework into action, connecting stakeholders, building partnerships, and tailoring solutions that reflect each region’s unique capacity and challenges. In some places, this will mean developing new models from the ground up. In others, it will be about reinforcing and aligning the systems already in place. Just as importantly, the Field Program will lead a strong regional and local advocacy effort by engaging policymakers, public health officials, and emergency preparedness networks to elevate the role of trauma leadership in planning and response. While national recognition lays important groundwork, it’s the regional leadership and local action of the RCOT network that will be essential to making RMOCCs a functional reality where coordination is organized and sustained.

RMOCC Road Map

Two presentations are being made available for your review and use. The RMOCC Pitch Deck is for use with colleagues and legislators within your institution/system/state to describe what an RMOCC is and why it is important. The RMOCC Implementation Deck takes you through a detailed explanation of the implementation roadmap as you begin to assemble your RMOCC at the local, county, or state level.

Some slides within the decks have been ‘hidden’ as these are optional slides and can be used or not used according to your audience and comfort level. You may choose to hide more. Since this is an ACS resource, we ask that you do not modify or change any of the slides without prior written approval so we can maintain consistent messaging in the presentations. If you have further questions, please reach out to cot@facs.org.

Download Pitch Deck Download Implementation Deck

Trauma Systems

RMOCCs Promote Readiness for Daily Trauma Care and Mass Casualty Incidents

The goal of Regional Medical Operations Coordinating Centers (RMOCCs) is to save as many lives as possible during mass casualty events by integrating local and regional emergency management, public health, and trauma services. Read more in JACS about the role of RMOCCs in the creation a national trauma system.

Past Webinars

Read discussion summaries, key messaging, and speaker presentations from past webinars.

Webinar 6: Oregon Hospital Capacity System

Date: September 17, 2025

Speaker(s): David Lehrfeld

Goal: Demonstrate successful implementation of a hospital capacity software solution

Overview: Highlight the development and functionality of Oregon’s capacity tracking system (Apprise Health Insights), its use in trauma system management, and implementation challenges

Call to action

Identify software solutions suited for new RMOCC efforts

Read Discussion Summary

Webinar 5: Washington State RMOCC Operations

Date: August 27, 2025

Speaker(s): Steven Mitchell

Goal: Demonstration of steps that were required for successful RMOCC development

Overview: Review development during the COVID-19 crisis, required stakeholders, funding, barriers, and future direction

Call to action

Update the RMOCC development checklist

Read Discussion Summary

Webinar 4: Tools for Local COT RMOCC Champions: Slides and Checklist

Date: July 29, 2025

Speaker(s): Kristan Staudenmayer & Joseph Sakran

Goal: Help regional champions by providing them with a detailed step-by-step checklist and an adaptable PowerPoint slide set to assist with demonstrating the structure and value of an RMOCC.

Agenda:

Introduction of new ACS COT Advocacy Chair – Dr. Joseph Sakran
Briefly summarize, review, and update the information from past webinars
Review two new tools:
- A PowerPoint slide set that can be modified to meet local RMOCC needs
- A detailed step-by-step checklist for developing a functional, day-to-day RMOCC

Call to action

Modify the PowerPoint to meet your local needs. Begin work using the development checklist.

Read Discussion Summary

Webinar 3: Development of RMOCC Standards and Tiers in RMOCC Development

Date: April 17, 2025

Speaker(s): Kristan Staudenmayer

Goal: Provide the RCOT state or provincial chairs/RMOCC champions with what the future may hold with a more formalized RMOCC development that includes standards. Consider adopting these proposed standards early in the process to benefit from others’ lessons learned. 

Overview: Standards provide a clear framework for delivering high-quality, consistent care across diverse settings. They serve as a foundation for evaluation, improvement, and accountability. Standards ensure patients receive safe, effective, and coordinated treatment. Currently, there are no national standards for RMOCC development and no verification process by an organizing body. This webinar presents a framework for the development of standards and will seek feedback on those standards that are proposed. The discussion will focus on the principles behind RMOCCs and the goals that an RMOCC should try to meet. It will review the basic structural components, attributes, and capabilities to be addressed by having standards. As discussed during the STRAC presentation, RMOCC development is a long-term project to reach an ever-changing/improving “gold standard”. During development, it is probable that there will be different tiers that reflect the increasing level of capabilities, components, or attributes. In addition to what standards should be, there will also be a discussion of what standards should “not be”.  

Call to action

Use these proposed standards as a starting point in conversations with stakeholders and in developing the framework for a regional RMOCC (subject to change as these proposed standards are vetted further).

Read Discussion Summary

Webinar 2: Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) as one example of 25 years of RMOCC development

Date: March 25, 2025

Speaker(s): Eric Epley

Goal: Provide the RCOT state chairs/RMOCC champions with what an ideal RMOCC could look like. Focus on the baby steps required to reach this “gold standard” RMOCC over 25-year period. 

Overview: The STRAC RMOCC did not emerge overnight. This session traces the historical development of STRAC emergency and trauma care system improvements over their 25-year history. Day-to-day functionality of the STRAC RMOCC will be reviewed to include its role in environmental and trauma crises. Provide the top ten “next steps” to start your regional RMOCC development process. Understanding this historical progression prepares participants to lead future discussions and improvements within their region and advocate effectively within their regional trauma systems. 

Call to action

Review of and implementation of the suggested first 10 steps proposed

Read Discussion Summary

Webinar 1: Broad overview of National Trauma and Emergency Preparedness System (NEPTS) and RMOCC importance

Date: February 11, 2025

Speaker(s): Jeff Kerby & John Armstrong

Goal: Introduce the RMOCC concept and explain how it fits into the COT’s goal of developing a National Trauma and Emergency Preparedness System (NTEPS).

Overview: This first session will set the stage for the entire Field Program series by highlighting the historical development of NTEPS efforts in the U.S., review of NTEPS 2.0, and the idea that a day-to-day fully functional RMOCC can be the cornerstone of a national system. Discuss the roles of NTEPS in national security to include disaster response and during a potential Large Scale Combat Operation (LSCO).  We will examine how evidence of mortality and morbidity benefit identified during mass casualty events or regional COVID-19 response. This session will also introduce participants to the RCOT RMOCC Field Program as a tool to support the COTs largest strategic objective of NTEPS development. 

Call to action

Learn about NTEPS 2.0 and RMOCC’s role

Read Discussion Summary