Instead of Leaning Forward, Look Back... for a Moment

As we observe National Preparedness Month, our first thoughts often turn to what lies ahead: the next emerging infectious disease, the next technology disruption, the next supply chain shortage, or the next event that may challenge our ability to provide care.

These topics remain top of mind for emergency managers and healthcare teams who work every day to ensure our organizations are prepared for whatever comes next. Preparedness requires us to constantly lean forward, anticipate change, and remain vigilant in an increasingly complex environment.

However, perhaps this is also an appropriate time to look back at where we've come from.

This is not about seeking praise or congratulations for a job well done. Rather, one of the hallmarks of an effective preparedness program is recognizing its strengths and leveraging those strengths to address future challenges.

Consider the Hazard Vulnerability Analysis concerns that ranked highest just a year ago. Can you identify strategies, investments, or efforts that helped reduce those risks? Have planning initiatives, training, exercises, or partnerships improved your ability to manage those threats? If so, those same approaches may help guide success in the year ahead.

Look at the partnerships that were established over the last year. Were new relationships built through real-world events, exercises, or collaborative planning efforts? Have those connections strengthened your organization's ability to respond to adversity? That's a success worth recognizing. Equally important is considering what opportunities exist this year to expand those relationships and intentionally seek out new partners who can contribute to resilience and preparedness.

Think about how staff have responded through challenges over the past year. Have training, processes, and response frameworks proven effective when operations shifted from routine activities into emergency operations? At times, it may feel as though those transitions happen seamlessly, with staff moving fluidly between normal operations and incident response. While that may seem routine, it is the hallmark of a preparedness program that is functioning effectively. Those smooth transitions are the result of planning, training, leadership, and the dedication of staff throughout the organization.

Have you successfully navigated another regulatory or accreditation survey? That is no small accomplishment. Preparedness requirements continue to be rigorous, while healthcare organizations manage high patient volumes, competing priorities, and an ever-changing operating environment. Maintaining compliance, engaging staff and leadership, and sustaining preparedness efforts while keeping patient care at the center of everything we do is an achievement that deserves recognition.

So, will we continue to lean forward into the next headline, challenge, or emerging threat? Absolutely.

Will we maintain the situational awareness necessary to anticipate disruptions and respond accordingly? Without a doubt.

Will we continue to evaluate real events and exercises, identify lessons learned, and develop actionable improvements that strengthen our response capabilities? We will.

But for just a moment, let's also appreciate the work that has been accomplished. I hope you and your team take that opportunity.

For more information, contact Ryan Weaver, MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS, CHEP, CFI-I Manager, Emergency Management.