2025 CMS Exercise Series Details

Effective 10/06/2025: Last week, we announced the decision to reschedule the 2025 Exercise Series to January 2026. We’re committed to delivering a high-quality and engaging experience—and to meet that standard, we needed a bit more time. This adjustment allows us to align with upcoming funding and maintain the level of excellence you deserve. We truly appreciate your flexibility and continued support. The updated schedule is now available below, including new opportunities for in-person tabletop exercises in the new year, registration will open later this Fall—we can’t wait to see you there!

If you have any questions please reach out to Alayna Hubble, ahubble@vhha.com or Greggory Skeens, gskeens@vhha.com

Welcome to the 2025 CMS Exercise Series. This page contains all of the essential information you'll need for each session. Please review the details below carefully:

  1. Exercise Series: This series is designed to help healthcare organization enhance their emergency preparedness plans and work towards meeting CMS requirements. It includes a variety of training sessions and exercises, all held in a virtual setting.
  2. Attendance: To get the most out of this series, we strongly encourage live participation in all sessions. Attending in real time allows for better planning, interactive Q&A, and optimal preparation for the exercise components. If you're unable to attend a session, recording will be available upon request. However, missing planning meetings may result in removal from the remainder of the series. Note: While your full team is required for the exercise sessions, only one representative needs to attend the planning and training sessions.
  3. Minimum People Involved: Exercises must involve a team- no single individual can complete them alone. At a minimum, your exercise team should include: an administrative leader, a clinical leader, and a facilities leader. You're welcome to include additional members of your organizations incident command or response teams. Important: SVHC will not certify completion for any organization that does not meet this standard. For questions about team composition please contact: ahubble@vhha.com or gskeens@vhha.com.
  4. Optional Offering: The Hazard Vulnerability Assessment scheduled for October 2nd is an optional offering. If you or your team have already completed this component for your organization for the year, or you plan to do it at another date/time you will not need to attend this offering.
  5. Tabletop Exercise (TTX): Your Exercise Team must attend one of the two available virtual Tabletop Exercise (TTX) sessions. This is a mandatory requirement for successful completion of the series. Each participant must register individually to ensure accurate attendance tracking.
  6. Functional Exercise (FE): This Exercise will take place through the VHASS platform on-site at your location. Your participation in the Functional Exercise (dates below) is mandatory for SVHC to certify completion of this requirement.

Exercise Series Calendar

Part 1: Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) 

On Thursday, October 2nd,  at 10:00 a.m., we launched our series with a hands-on session focused on conducting a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA), also known as a risk assessment. This essential step in emergency planning helps identify your organization's greatest threats and vulnerabilities; guiding where to focus your time, funding, and resources.

Recording
Resources: svhc.vhemp.org/hva

Part 2: Initial Planning Meeting (IPM)

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026 , at 10:00 am. we will have an in-depth discussion centered around planning for the tabletop exercise. We will discuss the theme for this series, the importance of emergency planning and preparedness, and what to expect and have available for the tabletop exercise. This session will be hosted virtually for 1-hour.

Registration has not yet opened for this event.

Part 3: Tabletop Exercise

Building on the work that you have already completed, Organizations will now have the opportunity to complete a tabletop exercise. A discussion-based event that involves key personnel and decision makers in an informal setting to discuss roles, responsibilities, and responses to an emergency scenario. Your organization should choose one of the two dates to attend. All individuals from your building should participate together during this event. Your team should consist of clinical, admin, and facilities staff.

Please block January 12-16, 2026 for the tabletop exercises. More information to come.

 

Part 4: Mid-Term Planning Meeting

On Tuesday, January 27, at 10:00 am, we will host the MPM. This session serves as a critical checkpoint in our exercise planning process. It is an opportunity for all participating facilities to review, refine, and finalize the details of the upcoming Functional Exercise. We will work together to iron out any remaining questions, clarify roles and responsibilities, and ensure alignment on expectations and logistics. Your input during this session is essential to ensure a smooth and effective exercise experience. This session will be hosted virtually for 1-hour.

Registration Not Yet Open.

Part 5: Functional Exercise

Before we wrap up this series, Organizations will have the opportunity to complete a Functional Exercise on Tuesday, February 3rd at 10:00am. An operations-based event designed to test and evaluate the capabilities of an organization or multiple organizations in a simulated, realistic environment, focusing on command and control functions and coordination among various agencies. To support the convenience and operational flexibility of participating facilities, this functional exercise will be conducted virtually only. This format allows teams to engage collaboratively without the need for travel, while still gaining valuable insights and experience in emergency response planning.

Registration has not yet opened for this event. 

Part 6: After Action Review 

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 10:00 am, we will host the final session in the series, the power of conducting an After-Action Review, a dynamic process that transforms experience into actionable insight. An After Action Review is a structured, team-driven discussion that takes place after an exercise or incident. It helps identify what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better. This process fosters transparency, strengthens collaboration, and drives continuous improvement. This review is a key component of the Action Action Report/Improvement Plan process, which results in a formal document outlining findings and recommended actions for future enhancement. This session will be hosted virtually for 1-hour.

Registration Not Yet Open.

Resources