Mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) test every aspect of an EMS system—clinical judgement, communication, command structure, resource allocation, and resilience. In this session, Dr. Meg Marino shares front-line lessons from the Bourbon Street New Year’s Day (2025) MCI, offering an inside look at the medical director’s role in leading a system through chaos, uncertainty, and rapidly evolving operational demands.
Participants will walk through the timeline of the incident, examine real-time medical and operational decision-making, and explore the unique responsibilities medical directors shoulder before, during, and after large-scale events. Topics include triage strategy, interagency coordination, situational awareness, EMS crew support, public communication, and ensuring seamless integration with fire, police, and hospital partners.
The session will conclude with practical, actionable strategies medical directors can implement to strengthen preparedness: protocol development, training priorities, surge planning, dispatch integration, and leadership behaviors that support system performance during high-acuity, high-stress events.
This is a candid, experience-driven conversation about readiness, leadership, and the reality of managing MCIs in dynamic urban environments like New Orleans.
