One of the most prevalent issues identified by Emergency Response Program Organizations (ERPOs), is the inability to care for an overwhelming number of contaminated patients within a civilian community. Even when emergency responders successfully decontaminate and triage large numbers of patients at the scene, it is unlikely that neighboring hospitals are prepared and equipped to receive such a large amount of patients and treat them within the boundaries of the existing healthcare system. Thus, planners must avoid any collapse of the healthcare system and may need to redistribute existing resources to enhance and facilitate patient outcome. As a response to this issue, ERPOs should develop an alternative healthcare facility: the Off-Site Triage, Treatment and Transportation Center (Off-Site Center). This Center is a temporary patient clearinghouse to be disassembled once the flow of new patients has diminished to the point that they can be handled by the existing healthcare systems.

The Off-Site Center is intended to care for patients who have been triaged as “Minimal” at the scene, those patients who are worried that they might have been exposed to contamination, and those who self-refer to the Center.

Planners, administrators, first responders, medical professionals, and public health and emergency management personnel must evaluate the Concept of Operation for the Off-Site Center in order to increase their level of preparedness and provide effective mass-casualty care.

In this report, some general guidelines will be provided for the efficient planning and management of an Off-Site Center. A practical example will be also illustrated: a case study in Bergamo during a May 2010 National Meeting of the Italian Association of Alps Infantry Troops.