Risk management: a strategic approach, guardian of the Network
Managing a health care system is a complex task. To foster the health of our patients and communities, today and tomorrow, the various sectors of Vitalité Health Network work in synergy, a bit like an ant colony, to achieve our purpose.
As well as doctors and professionals working at patients' bedsides, there are laundry, food services, security, administrative and professional services staff, along with technicians and researchers, for example.
The Organizational Risk Management sector operates behind the scenes and out of people’s minds, playing a key role in the smooth running and advancement of the Network. I would even go so far as to say that it is the guardian of the Network in a way, laying solid foundations for the future.
Organizational risk management is a vast field. It may involve, for example, cybersecurity to properly protect the confidential information of patients and staff, supply chain planning for medical supplies, or demographic projections combined with forecasting departures and hires to estimate the number of health care workers we will need in five, ten or twenty years' time. It can also involve assessing legal risk when drawing up contracts, for example.
Faced with a complex system and a dynamic, changing environment, the Network can now rely on the risk management sector, which not only reduces potential threats, but also helps it leverage opportunities.
Its efforts consist of identifying, assessing and prioritizing risks, and then taking coordinated action to minimize, monitor and control the impact of adverse events. It's a systematic process that improves decision making and helps achieve strategic objectives.
To this end, we use visual tools, such as risk heat maps, to represent complex data and visualize the intensity or severity of risks. These tools also make it easier to understand and communicate risks within our organization. This approach is useful in managing vacant positions and in our analysis of hiring strategies to guide recruitment and placement efforts. It also helps to identify critical sectors and guide hiring strategies. For example, this approach was used when we brought in staff from private agencies, and now guides us in the weaning plan.
In conclusion, in accordance with our values of accountability and responsibility, the Risk Management sector takes its role as guardian of the Network seriously. It provides a framework for the Network to navigate through uncertainties and meet the needs of our patients and communities as effectively as possible, now and in the future.
Pierre Michaud
Vice-President of Risk Management and Financial Services
The “Voice of Our Leaders,” the blog of Vitalité Health Network’s Leadership Team, covers various topics related to transformation of the health system. The team members share their thoughts – transparently and from their own perspectives – on the issues, challenges and priorities within their areas of responsibility and the health system as a whole. Happy reading and happy reflection!
If you would like to share your thoughts or comments on this blog, please contact us at engagement [at] vitalitenb.ca.
