[CM] [WH] [E1] [C6] Assessing Risks and Threats

Chapter 6

Business Continuity Management (BCM) is essential for ensuring that healthcare facilities like Woodlands Health (WH) can continue to deliver critical services despite disruptions.

As a major integrated acute and community hospital serving the Northern region of Singapore, WH’s uninterrupted operations are vital to patient safety, public confidence, and the nation’s healthcare resilience.

Following the principles of ISO 22301: Security and Resilience – Business Continuity Management Systems and the Singapore Business Continuity Management (BCM) Policy, WH must identify, assess, and prepare for potential threats that could impair its ability to function.

Below is an assessment of key threat categories that WH should address in its BCM and crisis management planning.

Natural Hazards and Environmental Threats

Although Singapore is less prone to large-scale natural disasters compared to other countries, environmental hazards still pose operational risks:

• Severe Weather Events – Intense thunderstorms, lightning, and localised flooding may disrupt transport access for patients, staff, and supply deliveries.
• Haze and Air Quality Deterioration – Regional transboundary haze episodes can impact the respiratory health of patients and staff, trigger increased admissions, and require protective measures.
• Extreme Heat – Rising temperatures may strain cooling systems and impact equipment reliability.

BCM Consideration

Establish robust infrastructure resilience measures, redundancy in HVAC systems, and continuity arrangements for patient transfer during prolonged environmental incidents.

Public Health Emergencies

As a healthcare institution, WH faces heightened exposure to infectious disease outbreaks:

• Pandemics and Epidemics – Outbreaks such as COVID-19, influenza, or emerging infectious diseases could overwhelm patient capacity, disrupt staffing, and necessitate rapid infection control measures.
• Nosocomial (Hospital-Acquired) Infections – Internal outbreaks may force ward closures and strain isolation facilities.

BCM Consideration

Maintain surge capacity plans, infectious disease protocols, and cross-training of staff to handle critical roles during public health crises.

Technical and Infrastructure Failures

Critical infrastructure disruptions can compromise patient care and safety:

• Power Failures – Outages may affect life-support equipment, surgical theatres, and medical refrigeration.
• Water Supply Interruptions – Impact sanitation, sterilisation processes, and dialysis services.
• Medical Equipment Failures – Downtime of diagnostic machines, imaging systems, or ventilators could delay care.
• ICT System Outages – Loss of Electronic Medical Records (EMR), telemedicine platforms, or network connectivity may disrupt clinical workflows.

BCM Consideration

Implement redundant systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, backup water storage, and data recovery protocols aligned with ISO 22301 requirements.

Security and Safety Threats

Safety of patients, visitors, and staff is a priority:

• Workplace Violence or Aggression – Incidents involving patients, relatives, or visitors can escalate into security breaches.
• Terrorism or Sabotage – Though low probability in Singapore, these require vigilance, especially in public facilities.
• Theft or Vandalism of Medical Assets – Loss of critical resources can delay patient care.

BCM Consideration

Maintain access control systems, trained security personnel, and incident escalation procedures in compliance with Singapore’s healthcare security guidelines.

Supply Chain Disruptions

WH depends on the timely delivery of pharmaceuticals, consumables, and equipment:

• Global Shortages – Geopolitical events, pandemics, or manufacturing issues may delay essential medical supplies.
• Local Transportation Disruptions – Road closures, port delays, or logistics company failures can halt supply flow.

BCM Consideration

Identify alternative suppliers, maintain critical stockpiles, and establish supply chain contingency arrangements.

Cybersecurity Threats

Digital systems are the backbone of modern healthcare:

• Ransomware and Malware Attacks - Could cripple EMR systems, medical devices, and operational platforms.
• Data Breaches – Compromise patient confidentiality and violate Singapore’s PDPA regulations.

BCM Consideration

Strengthen cyber resilience through regular penetration testing, staff cybersecurity awareness training, and incident response planning.

Human Resource Disruptions

People are the heart of WH’s service delivery:

• Mass Absenteeism – Illness, industrial action, or transport disruptions can leave critical posts unmanned.
• Skills Gaps – Specialist expertise may be hard to replace at short notice.

BCM Consideration

Develop a cross-training programme, flexible workforce arrangements, and succession plans for critical roles.

Table: Threats to Business Continuity Management for Woodlands Health

Summing Up ...

For Woodlands Health, resilience is not just about surviving disruptions—it’s about ensuring continuous, safe, and effective healthcare delivery in alignment with ISO 22301 and the Singapore BCM Policy.

By systematically identifying and preparing for the above threat categories, WH can safeguard patient care, uphold public trust, and contribute to Singapore’s overall healthcare readiness.

Incorporating these threat assessments into WH’s Operational Readiness: Crisis Management Implementation will help transform risks into managed challenges, enabling the hospital to respond swiftly and recover effectively from any crisis.