Simulated shooter drill coming to Confluence

MOSES LAKE — Confluence Health and Samaritan Healthcare will conduct a joint full-scale active shooter exercise in Moses Lake on Saturday, according to a statement from the two companies.

The exercise will focus on a simulated active shooter threat at the Confluence Health clinic in Moses Lake, the statement said. Local first responders, including Moses Lake fire, police, and EMS departments, will all participate in the exercise and respond to the incident. The exercise will also involve a simulated mass casualty incident in which “patients” – volunteers playing a part – will first be taken to Samaritan Hospital to be stabilized and, if needed, transported to other regional hospitals including Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. Confluence Health will also activate its Hospital Incident Command System for the exercise to help manage the fictional incident in Moses Lake as well as coordinating with CWH to receive patients as part of their MCI plan.

The exercise seeks to allow healthcare workers, first responders, and others involved in such real-life incidents to have an opportunity to practice, discover areas to improve and to better prepare to provide the best service and response possible should the need ever arise, the statement said.