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It’s time to learn the difference between NIMS and HEICS If you’re confused about the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS), you’re not alone. Contrary to recent speculation, NIMS--an emergency response structure introduced by the federal government in 2004--doesn’t replace HEICS. Instead, NIMS operates at a more comprehensive level, coordinating cross-jurisdictional, statewide, and national incident response and assistance through standard protocols during a large-scale or complex emergency. Jurisdictions and emergency services organizations that receive federal preparedness funding have until September 30 to fully comply with NIMS.