Risk mitigation is a tricky topic in any environment, and in healthcare, there are even more complexities to consider. Not only must risk management programs be designed to protect lives in an emergency, but they must also ensure hospitals can continue delivering care.
Building codes can help healthcare teams establish a baseline for managing risks of fire and other life-threatening events. When it comes to safeguarding invaluable pieces of medical equipment and materials, however, staff may find a need to go deeper.
“Building and fire codes are first aimed at life safety, with the objective of being able to evacuate people or shelter in place. A measure of property protection is also afforded.” notes Matthew Hopley, Alberta Branch Manager with LRI Engineering Inc., explaining, “That being said, there can be other special conditions or considerations that come into play that merit a closer look.”
Surely, the term “business continuity” takes on a whole new dimension in a healthcare environment. Emergencies not only jeopardize occupants but a team’s ability to deliver healthcare services after the crisis has passed.
The challenge, however, is that just because a hospital’s original design or current configuration complies with those codes doesn’t mean that all aspects of the design provide the level of protection that hospital stakeholders think they do.
“These codes have to apply very broadly to the built environment. As a result of that, they don’t necessarily handle very special cases very well. And considering everything that goes on inside a hospital, these are definitely special cases,” adds Hopley.
For example, he adds, consider a hospital that has established a new virus lab with an extremely sensitive microscope that would be difficult to replace if lost or damaged in a fire. Building codes and risk mitigation plans may address how that lab should be evacuated in a fire emergency but may not include provisions to protect this critical piece of equipment.
The same considerations can apply to a stock of materials and supplies critical to a facility’s operations. This is particularly relevant at a time when COVID-19 treatments and vaccines may be stored at a facility but not adequately considered in existing risk plans.
“Often, when we talk to clients about risk we’ll find that there’s a lot of focus on life safety to the detriment of property protection. In a hospital, though, you really want to make sure your risk strategies are protecting things that are critical to your supply chain and ability to continue operations,” says Hopley.
Closing the gaps
Every hospital has its unique risk profile. Herein, the first step in developing a comprehensive risk management program is to bring awareness to the assets, operations, and most vulnerable materials. This can be done through an internal risk audit or investigation, followed by staff training and ongoing education.
Of course, Hopley and the LRI team are well-versed in identifying and addressing their clients’ risk profiles. And when it comes to covering risks in healthcare, Hopley adds that factors such as risk tolerance, specialized equipment, unique patient needs, and any number of factors make it necessary to create tailored strategies for each engagement.
“Risk tolerance across organizations isn’t uniform. You can get different levels of risk tolerance depending on an organizational structure or the people operating facility. That’s why our focus is on helping people understand their specific hazards, what they’re trying to achieve, and what special considerations ought to be made in their unique environment.”
Solutions for addressing risks will vary. For some, it may mean upgrading or revamping specific spaces, while for others, it may mean implementing new emergency protocols and procedures. In all cases, the goal is to make risk mitigation an active and ongoing strategy and plan.
“Just like it’s unwise to hold off going to the doctor because you’re busy, you don’t want to ignore potential hazards and risks and allow them to get out of hand,” adds Hopley.
Learn more about LRI Engineering, its Compliance Connect program, and risk management services. Visit www.lrifire.com or email ComplianceConnect@lrifire.com.
