Book excerpt: Jane's Mass Casualty Handbook: Hospital is designed for physicians, nurses and other hospital-based personnel responding to mass casualty incidents, particularly chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incidents. The Handbook provides focused guidance in developing emergency management capabilities, including an effective and robust Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The procedures and policies recommended are practical, cost-effective, sustainable and applicable for all hazards and day-to-day operations. Background information, general guidelines and system requirements allow each healthcare facility to make use of the material according to their specific needs, while building on existing standards and procedures such as HEICS and JCAHO. The Handbook also provides principles and checklists aimed at enhancing preparedness, whilst adhering to a 'system approach' by offering helpful hints to encourage management, doctors and other hospital staff to work together.