Risk management in healthcare includes the clinical and organizational systems, processes, and reports utilized to detect, monitor, assess, mitigate, and prevent risks. By applying risk management initiatives, hospitals proactively and systematically safeguard patient safety as well as the organization’s assets, market share, accreditation, reimbursement levels, brand value, and community standing. A successful risk management plan considers the full range of potential risks a hospital or group of hospitals may face and the impact these risks could have on an organization’s strategic goals.

This article discusses:

1. What is risk management?
2. What is risk management’s role in healthcare delivery?
3. How can technology best support risk management initiatives?