Take the first step in risk management

Risk management typically is defined as the process of identifying, assessing and controlling risks or uncertainties that could have a negative impact. It is a multidisciplinary, proactive practice focused on mitigation.

Risk assessment is one of the key stages in the risk management process and involves specific steps: identifying hazards, analyzing and evaluating all possible risks, determining mitigation strategies, recording the outcome and reviewing the controls. It involves an analysis of potential threats to safety, security, operations, maintenance and compliance.

Through identifying, assessing and prioritizing risks, health care facilities professionals can tailor mitigation strategies to address the probable challenges, ensuring proper strategies are implemented and resources are directed where they are needed most to help mitigate potential risks.

While this process is methodical, it should not be misconstrued as a cold, mechanical exercise. Ensuring that a well-defined but dynamic process is used to assess risk is vital. Having a dynamic, multidisciplinary, evolving practice that reflects a commitment to patient care and a relentless pursuit of operational optimization is needed within health care facilities management.

Organizations must have a process for assessing and mitigating risks before planned maintenance or construction work. The use of infection control risk assessments (ICRAs) and interim or alternate life safety measures (ILSMs/ALSMs) during hospital design and construction projects has been evolving. Visit the American Society for Health Care Engineering's (ASHE's) website to access the American Society for Health Care Engineering’s ASHE ICRA 2.0™ Toolkit and ashe.org/lsra to access ASHE’s Life Safety Risk Assessment Tool.

Using ICRA and ILSM/ALSM matrixes during planned or unplanned activities can help ensure that proper analysis and evaluation is provided and that appropriate mitigation strategies are implemented, providing increased protection for all occupants.

Jonathan Flannery, MHSA, CHFM, FASHE, FACHE, senior associate director, ASHE Regulatory Affairs.