Introduction
Healthcare organizations are often sensitive and require effective management to facilitate the smooth running of operations. Risk management in healthcare involves identifying the possible threats that could hurt the functions of the healthcare organization and harm its workforce and the patients within the facility (Ferdosi et al., 2020).
Discussion
Risk management in healthcare is one of the essential elements that ensure the efficient administration of the organization. The notion of risk management in healthcare is significantly different from other sectors because it involves the lives and general welfare of the staff and the patients (Ferdosi et al., 2020). Additionally, healthcare organizations handle sensitive items such as drugs which require utmost care to ensure that they remain safe for patient consumption. Therefore, the need for increased competency in the healthcare sector to minimize mistakes lays the foundation for effective risk management to eliminate any obstacles hindering effective service delivery.
Risk management in healthcare is often handled by healthcare risk managers or the organization’s executive leadership. Risk managers in healthcare are trained to assess the potential threats that may negatively impact the organization’s operations and create a conducive environment for the well-being of the workforce and the patients (Ferdosi et al., 2020). Risk managers’ other roles include assessing the healthcare facility’s preparedness for emergencies and ability to effectively respond to emergencies and minimize possible damage (Ferdosi et al., 2020). Additionally, the healthcare managers are responsible for identifying possible risks and estimating their potential consequences to the organization’s stakeholders.
Furthermore, risk managers are required to formulate mechanisms that prepare the organization for unforeseen situations. This includes ensuring that there are necessary funds for emergencies and mechanisms that ensure the organization continues to operate in adverse conditions (Guerra et al., 2021). Risk managers’ roles continue to evolve with new roles emerging based on the dynamics of the healthcare sector. This manager’s responsibility is to keep all the stakeholders informed of the changes in the industry and how such changes affect the organization. In addition, risk managers are responsible for coordinating with the stakeholders to assess the risks the organization is likely to face and initiate mechanisms and policies to eliminate such risks.
There are various steps that risk managers employ when handling potential risks threatening a healthcare organization. Firstly, the risk manager must identify the potential risks by analyzing all the organizational data on the patients, employees, and other stakeholders (Guerra et al., 2021). Additionally, risk managers can rely on overall data from the healthcare sector. Secondly, the manager must prioritize the risks that are likely to occur and significantly impact the organization. Thirdly, the manager must investigate and identify all the factors contributing to the likelihood of the risk occurrence. The inquiry must be collaborative and inclusive of all the organization’s stakeholders to produce a detailed report regarding the risks (Guerra et al., 2021). Lastly, the risk manager must formulate a plan on how the organization can comply with the findings of the investigations and all the factors that must be considered.
Conclusion
Risk management in healthcare is essential in promoting the quality of healthcare services by reducing the medical and financial errors that reduce an organization’s ability to offer quality care to its patients. Risk management also ensures that the organization has access to all the necessary equipment to offer quality healthcare to the patients (Guerra et al., 2021). One of the major purposes of risk management in healthcare is to promote patient safety. Therefore, prioritizing the patient’s safety makes the organization eliminate all the possible factors that can undermine the patient’s safety and promote practices that enhance quality services.
Works Cited
Ferdosi, M., Rezayatmand, R., & Taleghani, Y. M. (2020). Risk management in executive levels of healthcare organizations: insights from a scoping review (2018). Risk management and healthcare policy, 13, 215. Web.
Guerra, F., Guzzo, A. S., La Rosa, P., Miatto, I., Vergati, D., Miredi, F., & Ottolenghi, L. (2021). Risk management and Healthcare responsibility. How to guarantee legal protection in Medicine. La Clinica Terapeutica, 172(1), 63-66. Web.