Medina Healthcare System recently participated in the San Antonio Mass Casualty Exercise & Evaluation (SAMCEE), the largest disaster preparedness drill in South Texas. Coordinated by the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), the exercise brought together 22 counties, 72 healthcare facilities, and more than 120 emergency response agencies for a region-wide test of emergency readiness.

The large-scale event simulated a mass casualty scenario, allowing hospitals, EMS agencies, and emergency management partners to evaluate their response procedures, communication strategies, and coordination efforts in real time.

At Medina Healthcare System, interdisciplinary teams across departments worked side-by-side with local EMS partners to assess everything from patient triage and transport to surge capacity and resource deployment. The goal: to ensure that, if a large-scale disaster ever occurs, the hospital and its partners can respond quickly, effectively, and compassionately.

“Preparedness is one of the most important aspects of healthcare,” said Adam Aguilar, Director of Emergency Services. “We hope we never have to face a true disaster of this magnitude, but training together allows us to respond with precision and compassion if the need ever arises.”

Following the exercise, hospital leaders participated in a debriefing session to review outcomes, identify strengths, and discuss areas for improvement. Such evaluations are key to building a more resilient healthcare network across South and Central Texas.

Medina Healthcare System extended sincere appreciation to Community EMS for their collaboration and active participation. “Every agency involved shares the same mission—saving lives and keeping our communities safe,” Adam Aguilar added. “Through training and teamwork, we build confidence and readiness that could one day make all the difference.”

While everyone hopes that such an event will never happen, Medina Healthcare System remains steadfast in its commitment to preparedness. Through collaboration with partners like STRAC and continued participation in exercises such as SAMCEE, the hospital continues to uphold its mission of providing quality care close to home, even in the most challenging circumstances.

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