In class today we discussed Crisis Management. Before class we were asked to read an article from Forbes titled "7 Ways Leaders Maintain Their Composure in Difficult Times." The article describe seven key tips to deal with crisis situations as a leader of a organization, department, or group. When dealing with these type of situations it is important to stay calm and positive. Often times when a situation arises people start to panic and run around and cause more commotion. Last semester I wrote 3 blogs from my management class that focused on crisis situations and how they were dealt with.
The first was a blog on Hurricane Harvey's Impact on Hospitals. In early September Houston Texas had record breaking rainfall forcing neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals to be evacuated. Because of the vast impact this event had Public Health officials had to take steps to stop the spread of the affect that water had on the areas. Drinking water was contaminated and so disease could spread quickly if preventive steps were not put in place. Houses were ruined by water damage and could also help to spread disease. Officials had to make shelters with clean water to shower and clothes to wear for those getting back up on their feet.
The second blog was from early October and the Las Vegas Shooting. The article I found was from the New York Times about a Las Vegas Trauma Center having crowds of people flood in to be treated. New workflows had to be created to help control the number of patients seeking treatment, patients were ranked 1 to 5 depending on their injury. Those that were given a 1 received treatment first and were rushed into a room immediately, those that were a 5 were treated in waiting rooms and hallways. This workflow helped give the best care they were able to give to the most people possible.
The final blog was from middle of October and the Northern California wildfires. Similar to the Hurricane Harvey situation neighborhoods and hospitals had to be evacuated. Patients needed to be transported to other hospitals before the wildfires reached. Patients were evacuated via ambulances and city buses to other hospitals near by. Hospital officials had to reach out to ambulance companies and the city bus company in order to move the patients. Not only was a workflow created to move the patients but also to treat the burn victims which needed skin grafts and surgery to treat burns.
All three events were nothing that could be planned for but officials needed to think on their feet to help give the greatest quality of care for a large quantity of people. These events helped other hospitals and states to think about emergency preparedness. While these events are unfortunate they can help to open the eyes to officials about the needs to be ready to act if a situation does occur.
Last fall seemed like the world was coming to an end with one crisis after another. It was a good lesson that you have to be prepared generally, because you just don't know what's coming.
ReplyDeleteCrisis management is an area that fortunately and unfortunately the world is getting pretty good at dealing with. Ideally, there wouldn't be a need to be prepared for mass casualties, but sadly that is the world we live in. I too was very impressed by the way the healthcare industry has handled the events of the past year. I think 9/11 was a major wakeup call in terms of crisis management in this country. The events of that day were so unfathomable that there wasn't always a perfect system of dealing with the situation. Consequently, I think 9/11 has served as somewhat of a catalyst in making the country experts on crisis management. It is somewhat of a sad reality, but I of course agree that being prepared for the worst is the best mindset to have.
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