HOSPITAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN

Hospital Crisis Management Plan

Hospital Crisis Management Plan

Introduction

Crisis occurs when a person is confronted with a critical incident or stressful event that is perceived as overwhelming despite the use of traditional problem-solving and coping strategies. The events may happen both in a person's private life or their professional arena. A crisis can also cross over from the private to the professional as well as the reverse if the person cannot contain it or is under immense prolonged stress. Often it is not one single event that triggers a crisis but a series of smaller stressors coming together to overwhelm the person. When a crisis does occur it may trigger physiological, affective and/or behavioural responses. Having a solid crisis communication plan is just as important as having smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in a building. Crisis communication plans should cover various types of negative events, including accidents, large business losses, the death or departure of important executives, tainted or dangerous products, or lawsuits.

Discussion

When an incident occurs, everyone is tempted to express a point of view. However, yielding to that temptation can cause communication to break down and could even result in confusion. Reputation, and in some cases even lives, may be at stake. All media calls should be referred to the communications office or to those assigned to handle that function. (Barton, 2001)

The assigned spokesperson will provide regular briefings and respond to most media requests. The principal and superintendent will need to make statements, generally at a briefing, as soon as possible after the incident, and at other appropriate times. They have other functions to perform in helping steer the system through the crisis. The superintendent and principal may also wish to call the families of those who were killed or injured, make hospital visits, and provide encouragement to the legions of staff, volunteers, community agencies, and the media who are working day and night to deal with the aftermath of tragedy.

Factors to Consider When Developing a Crisis Communication Plan

Develop a crisis communication plan in advance to handle any situation; determine exactly how and what key publics will be instructed to do in case of an emergency.

Conduct research to discover information that is not readily available.

Insist that all company operations be monitored regularly. A crisis that results because of operational failure without these preparations will surely cause the company to lose credibility. (Howard, 2000)

Prevention: Your First and Best Strategy

The best way to deal with acts of violence is to stop them before they happen. One way is to pay attention to warning signs. In some cases, hospital systems have installed high-tech security devices. While that type of hardware might be helpful, it is only part of the equation.

A growing body of evidence indicates that young people too often feel unaccepted, bullied, or left out. Cliques form, with names ranging from jocks and nerds to cowboys and the trench-coat mafia. When certain groups gain unofficially sanctioned advantage, perhaps because they are stars of the football team, trust ...