The TADMAT is structured with two modes of operation. The preparatory mode utilizes an Executive Committee to conduct daily business. The active mode is based on the Incident Command System (ICS) specifically redesigned for this DMAT and is utilized in training and deployment. The Unit Commander and Executive Officer are ultimately responsible for all decisions and activities in both modes. The Unit Commander is responsible for decisions dealing with medical treatment issues and the Executive Officer is responsible for decisions dealing with team activities.
In order to be organized for preparatory and active operations, the following terminology will be used.
1) The overall group individuals sponsored by the Medical College of Ohio (MCO) shall be known as the Toledo Area Disaster Medical Assistance Team or TADMAT. The TADMAT is incorporated as a not-for-profit agency called TADMAT Inc. All members of the TADMAT when functioning with the team are representatives of TADMAT Inc., The Medical College of Ohio, and finally, their own employer / hospital.
2) Upon request of an authorized agency, the TADMAT may provide a team consisting of medical response and support personnel sufficient enough to provide care to the expected disaster victims for which the TADMAT will be responding. The number and compliment of team members is dependent on the decision of members of the executive committee and/or the Team Unit Commander and Executive Officer.
3) A DMAT is considered to be a 35-37 person team with appropriate equipment and supplies to deploy for 72 hours of self-sufficiency within 12-24 hours of notification. The team consists of three to five physicians, eight ALS providers, 16 BLS providers and up to eight non-medical personnel. This DMAT will respond for an anticipated maximum mission lengths of 10-14 days.
4) A "Clearing and Staging Unit" (CSU) is made up of 75 to 100 persons; essentially three DMATs. This unit is to respond within 48 hours of notification and to carry equipment and supplies to allow for 72 hours of self-sufficient operation. Similarly, this CSU is anticipated to respond for maximum mission lengths of 10-14 days.
5) Another possible configuration of the TADMAT will be to function locally as a rapid deployment or reception team. This group will deploy within 1-2 hours with only personal provisions for 24 hour self-sufficiency. This response will most likely occur when victims overwhelm a local EMS agency and field stabilization is required due to either the severity of the situation or delay in transport from the disaster area. The rapid deployment team may also be requested to meet, re-triage and re-stabilize victims being airlifted from another site to be received in the Toledo area.
6) The Toledo Base Operations Team (TBOT) or "Home Team" will consist of personnel needed to support any of the deployed teams discussed above. The TBOT will assist with communications, pack resupply material and any other duties necessary. Active members not deployed will be called to facilitate this activity. The TBOT will include communications and a public relations specialist. The "Home Team" concept also allows for personnel to respond to a local or statewide disaster concurrently with an out of state deployment for NDMS.
7) In any configuration and during training exercises, the TADMAT will follow a modified Incident Command Structure (ICS). This structure is modular and may expand or contract as needed by the size of the deploying unit and the circumstances of the disaster.
8) Within each team are functional areas known as "sections". These are the Medical Operations Section and the Logistics Section, both of which report to a Section Chief. Each Section Chief reports directly to the Unit Commander and the Executive Officer. Within each section are smaller "teams" created according to function and shift. Led by Team Leaders, they are the smallest sub-division within any section. Examples of which are "Day Shift Triage", or "Night shift red area" team. Each individual TADMAT member reports to a team leader for assignment of medical and non-medical tasks. The Unit Commander and Executive Officer may also have a staff who will have administration, research or additional responsibilities during an activation.
1) An Executive Committee will provide on-going representation of all specialties of the TADMAT, as well as representation of each of the four participating hospitals in the TADMAT. During the Active Mode the Executive Committee may convene to assist the Unit Commander and Executive Officer in decision making. The Executive Committee consists of representatives of each of the four participating Toledo area hospitals in the TADMAT. Each position has an alternate in case the primary for that position is unavailable. Each Executive Committee member may have a dual role as one of the following: Unit Commander, Executive Officer, Logistics Section Chief, Nursing Officer, Prehospital / Outreach Supervisor, Transportation Supervisor, Supply Officer, CISM Team Supervisor, Public Information Officer, Communications Group Officer, Safety & Security Group Officer, Training Officer, Toledo Base Operations (TBOT) Manager, Treasurer. Additionally, team leaders may be assigned from members of the Executive Committee or general team membership who have previous deployment experience for special missions, details or to function in charge of one of the subsections of a section.
2) The function of the Executive Committee during the Preparatory Mode are: