Enhancing Cross-Level Coordination in Healthcare Incident Command Through Virtual Incident Command System (VICS) Integration

Authors

  • Salem S. Alammi Independent Risk Management and Resilience Consultant, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7832-2793
  • Abdullah Alshareef Health Services Administration, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Ahmed Alyami Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Medicine Administration, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Health Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Ali Alammi Disaster Management, Ministry of Health, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdullatif Bin Khunayn Public Health Emergences, Public Health Emergency Department, Gulf Centre for Prevention and Controle (GULFCDC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52609/jmlph.v6i3.312

Keywords:

Communication, Disaster Planning, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems, Leadership, Saudia Arabia

Abstract

Background: Multi-level healthcare incident command relies on timely, verified situational information; however, voice-based updates constrain situational visibility for leaders coordinating remotely. This study examined how a virtual incident command system (VICS) can be integrated as an augmentation layer within facility-level (Level 1) and healthcare cluster-level (Level 2) incident command in the Saudi Ministry of Health healthcare cluster system.

Methods: A qualitative, design-oriented case study used semi-structured interviews, complemented by a documentary review of non-identifying incident and exercise materials (e.g., incident/exercise reports, debrief notes, meeting minutes, and after-action reviews), with purposively selected incident command and coordination personnel (N=34) across three strata: cluster incident command leadership, operational first responders and support units, and cluster emergency operations centre and disaster specialists. VICS functions were piloted during tabletop exercises and functional drills (i.e., simulated scenarios rather than live emergency incidents) to assess feasibility and governance alignment. Data were analysed using the Framework Method informed by Ritchie and Spencer, supported by role-by-theme matrices and triangulation across data sources.

Results: Three themes described exercise-based participant perceptions of integration: (1) enhanced situational awareness via real-time visual access and information verification; (2) strengthened leadership presence and accountability across levels; and (3) improved adaptive escalation readiness through informed oversight without automatic command transfer.

Conclusion: A virtual incident command system can augment existing incident command by improving cross-level situational visibility and coordination while preserving authority structures and decision rights. Our findings support the formalisation of early visual activation and governance-aligned virtual visibility within multi-level healthcare emergency management.

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Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

AL AMMI, S., Alshareef, A. ., Alyami, A., Alammi, A., & Bin Khunayn, A. (2026). Enhancing Cross-Level Coordination in Healthcare Incident Command Through Virtual Incident Command System (VICS) Integration. The Journal of Medicine, Law & Public Health, 6(3), 989–1003. https://doi.org/10.52609/jmlph.v6i3.312

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2026): Jul-Sept

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Salem S. Alammi, Abdullah Alshareef, Ahmed Alyami, Ali Alammi, Abdullatif Bin Khunayn

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