[CM] [WH] [E2] [C8] CM Program Management

Chapter 8

Woodlands Health

The Program Management phase is the seventh and final phase of the Crisis Management (CM) Planning Methodology.

At Woodlands Health (WH), this phase ensures that the organisation’s CM capabilities remain effective, updated, and ready to respond to a crisis at any time.

Program Management is not a one-off activity; it is a structured, continuous process involving governance, training, review, and stakeholder engagement to sustain operational readiness.

Objectives of the Program Management Phase

Maintain readiness for crisis response across acute, sub-acute, rehabilitative, and community care services.

• Ensure integration between hospital departments, long-term care facilities, specialist clinics, and external partners within the National Healthcare Group (NHG).
• Embed crisis preparedness into day-to-day hospital operations, staff training, and patient safety initiatives.

Core Tasks and WH Examples

Task 1: Establish Governance and Accountability

• Description:

  Define and maintain oversight structures to ensure CM program continuity.

• WH Example:

  WH’s CM Steering Committee, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer, meets quarterly to review crisis readiness across all facilities, including the Medical Centre, Women’s Health & Specialist Centre, and long-term care units.

Task 2: Maintain and Update the Crisis Management Plan

• Description:

  Ensure plans reflect changes in organisational structure, services, and external risks.

• WH Example:

  Annual updates to WH’s CM Plan incorporate new operational areas, such as expanded rehabilitation services or changes to patient flow between acute wards and the Healing Garden’s therapy spaces.

Task 3: Continuous Training and Skills Development

• Description:

  Provide ongoing CM training for crisis management teams and operational staff.

• WH Example:

  Simulation exercises involving the evacuation of vulnerable patients from the long-term care facility to acute care wards during a hypothetical power failure.

Task 4: Testing and Exercising

• Description:

  Regularly test CM strategies to identify gaps.

• WH Example:

  Multi-agency pandemic surge simulation involving the WH, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and community partners to assess rapid scale-up of ICU beds and staff deployment.

Task 5: Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Description:

  Maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support crisis readiness.

• WH Example:

  Regular briefings with NHG headquarters, Ministry of Health (MOH), and community care partners to align emergency response protocols.

Task 6: Monitoring Regulatory Compliance

• Description:

  Ensure CM activities meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.

• WH Example:

  Internal audits to confirm WH’s crisis procedures meet MOH emergency preparedness standards and national healthcare accreditation benchmarks.

Task 7: Performance Measurement and Improvement

• Description:

  Use metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the CM program and implement improvements.

• WH Example:

  Tracking “time-to-bed” readiness for mass casualty incidents and implementing process improvements based on post-exercise reviews.

Task 8: Sustaining Crisis Management Culture

• Description:

  Integrate crisis readiness into the WH’s organisational culture.

• WH Example:

    Monthly departmental safety briefings include CM updates, and patient-facing posters in waiting areas promote community awareness of emergency procedures.

Summing Up ...

For Woodlands Health, the Program Management phase transforms crisis management from a static plan into a living, evolving framework embedded in daily hospital operations.

By ensuring governance, continuous training, testing, and stakeholder engagement, WH can confidently sustain operational readiness to protect patients, staff, and the community in any crisis scenario.

Operational Readiness: Crisis Management Implementation for Woodlands Health
eBook 2: Implementing Crisis Management for Woodlands Health

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/ Hybrid Learning Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].

	Please feel free to send us a note if you have any questions.