Pursuing Enterprise Risk Management Excellence in Emergency Preparedness

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a proactive strategy that, when effectively implemented, can support an organization in reducing risk, improving alignment, and building staff trust. An effective program includes leadership transparency and a range of initiatives focusing on regulatory and financial compliance, patient safety, overall risk reduction, information management, and the use of data in the decision-making process. An effective ERM program must include a highly functioning emergency preparedness program if it is to truly support risk reduction. Emergency preparedness is an integral component of ERM, and it is also a clear example of how proactive management within a high-reliability culture catalyzes an organization's pursuit of excellence. Today's healthcare challenges have shifted disaster planning from an operational requirement to a foundational imperative. Regardless of an organization's mission, structure, or size, operational continuity depends on a culture that supports sustained readiness. An organizational planning process that includes potential disruptions to daily activities is an important factor when preparing for and responding to the unexpected. Although operational leaders cannot predict every type of event, all efforts should be made to implement a fiscally sound readiness program that achieves the desired outcomes while minimizing workflow disruptions. Leaders need to ensure that their emergency preparedness program is adaptive enough to support mission-critical components of the organization when faced with unanticipated and potentially unfavorable events. In order for the program to be effective, it is important to holistically assess its necessary elements for excellence and determine how the program should be dynamically aligned with organizational culture.