Bioterror events: preemptive strategies for healthcare executives

Today's healthcare executives face challenges that their predecessors have never known: bioterror events. To prepare their organizations to cope with new and emerging strategic threats of bioterrorism, these executives must consider preemptive strategies. The authors present courses of action to assist executives' internal, external, and cross-sectional organizational preparedness. For example, stakeholder groups, internal resources, and competencies that combine and align efforts efficiently are identified. Twelve preemptive strategies are provided to guide healthcare executives in meeting these formidable and unprecedented challenges. The reputation of the healthcare organization (HCO) is at risk if a bioterror event is not properly handled, resulting in severe disadvantages for future operations. Justifiably, healthcare executives are contemplating the value of prioritizing bioterror preparedness, taking into account the immediate realities of decreasing reimbursement, increasing numbers of uninsured patients, and staffing shortages. Resources must be focused on the most valid concerns and must maximize the return on investment. Healthcare organizations can reap the benefits of a win-win approach by optimizing available resources, planning, and training. Bioterror preparedness will transcend the boundaries of bioterrorism and prepare for myriad mass healthcare incidents such as the looming potential for an avian (bird) influenza pandemic.