Disaster Preparation for a National Special Security Event: A Local Blood Center Perspective

Saturday, October 17, 2026

8:15 AM - 9:15 AM EST

Room: B313/314

Program Chair(s)

Suchi Pandey, MD

Chief Medical Officer/Clinical Professor
Stanford Blood Center/Stanford University
PALO ALTO, California

Speaker(s)

Sari Kopinsky, PMP, CSM

Project Manager
Stanford Blood Center
PALO ALTO, California
Michelle Ramos, BSBA/M

Quality & Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Stanford Blood Center
PALO ALTO, California

Proposed Session Description: Effective disaster planning for a National Special Security Event (NSSE) and Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) relies on strong collaboration between blood centers, hospitals, and emergency management teams. This activity focuses on NSSE/SEAR preparedness from the perspective of a community blood center located close to a recent large national football championship event, highlighting the importance of coordinating blood supply, communication, and response strategies across different operational areas. Through scenario-based discussions, participants will investigate how interprofessional planning can enhance patient care and ensure the continuity of operations during an NSSE/SEAR.

Learning Objectives:

Outline the essential quality and regulatory elements needed to prepare an effective disaster/emergency handbook by focusing on integrating compliance, risk management, and operational continuity
Describe how to structure a NSSE/SEAR preparedness strategy by scoping the blood center's role, developing operational plans, and integrating these plans with county and hospital emergency management teams.
Review plans for inventory management and communication between the blood center, transfusion service, and emergency room to prepare for an NSSE and possible mass casualty incident and the role of industry partners.
Discuss preparedness and management strategies for different disaster scenarios.