[CM] [WH] [E3] [CRA] [T1-2] List of Crisis Scenarios [3 to 8]

Introduction

The ability to anticipate and prepare for potential crises is a cornerstone of effective healthcare risk management.

For Woodlands Health (WH), serving the Northern population of Singapore, identifying possible crisis scenarios is essential to safeguarding patient care, ensuring staff safety, and maintaining uninterrupted operations.

This chapter, Part 1-2: CRA – List of Crisis Scenarios, outlines the spectrum of threats that could impact WH, ranging from natural hazards such as floods and haze to human-induced risks like workplace violence, organisational misconduct, and misinformation.

By categorising each scenario according to its crisis type, we provide a structured foundation for assessing potential impacts at both the country level—where national trends and vulnerabilities influence local risks—and the organisation level, where WH’s unique operational profile, infrastructure, and community integration come into play.

This systematic listing serves as the baseline for subsequent risk analysis, ensuring that WH’s crisis preparedness plans are comprehensive, relevant, and actionable.

List of Threats/ Crisis Scenarios for Woodlands Health [3 to 8]

Table Below: Notes for BCM Institute's Course Participants: This is the template for completing the "Part 1-2: CRA – List of Crisis Scenarios."

Part 1: CRA – List of Threats/ Crisis Scenario for Woodlands Health [3 to 8]

Crisis Type	Type of Threat / Crisis Scenario	Description of Threats	Country Level Relevance (Singapore)	Organisation Level (Woodlands Health)
Due to Workplace Violence	Workplace Violence	Acts of violence against staff or patients within hospital premises	Singapore has overall low workplace violence rates (but is not immune)	Risk to staff safety, patient care, and the need for security protocols.
Confrontation	Bomb Threat / Explosion / Terrorism	External threats such as terrorism-related incidents or bomb threats	Singapore is vigilant about terrorism risks.	Critical threat to staff/patient safety; would trigger lockdown, evacuation plans.
Organisational Misdeeds – Deception	Fraudulent billing or mis-representation	Internal deception leading to financial/legal risks	Affects trust in Singapore’s healthcare system	Damage to reputation, financial penalties, and erosion of patient trust.
Organisational Misdeeds – Skewed Management Values	Neglecting community integration goals	Prioritising acute care at the expense of community services integration	Balancing acute vs community care is emphasised in Singapore's policies	It could reduce the effectiveness of community health initiatives and weaken cohesion with the local population.
Organisational Misdeeds – Management Misconduct	Mis-management of transitional care	Poor coordination in sub-acute or rehabilitative services	Singapore promotes integrated care models	Could lead to patient dissatisfaction, increased readmissions, and inefficiencies across the care continuum.
Due to Rumours	Rumours about service, safety, or quality	Misleading information causing public fear or deterrence from using hospital services	Rumours can spread quickly via social media.	Potential drop in patient attendance, reputational harm, and need for crisis communication.
Lack of Funds	Budget cuts or funding shortfall	Reduced financial resources for service delivery or expansions	National healthcare funding in Singapore is subject to budget cycles	Could delay facility upgrades, limit specialist services, and affect long-term sustainability.

Notes on Table Construction

Threats were selected and specified based on BCMpedia’s categorised threats: "Denial of Access," "Unavailability of People," "Disruption of Supply Chain," "Equipment and IT-related Disruption."
The country level considers typical threats faced by Singapore (e.g., haze, tropical storms, pandemics) and acknowledges the broader national context.
Organisation level extrapolates how these threats could directly impact Woodlands Health’s infrastructure, staff, patients, and integrated operations.

Summing Up ...

The compilation of crisis scenarios in this chapter is not merely a theoretical exercise—it is a practical tool for proactive risk governance.

By mapping threats across crisis types and assessing their implications for Singapore as a whole and WH specifically, we establish a shared understanding of the diverse challenges that could disrupt healthcare delivery.

This list will serve as a dynamic reference, evolving with changes in WH’s services, the healthcare environment, and external risk factors.

It also enables informed prioritisation of mitigation measures, ensuring that WH’s crisis response strategies remain targeted, timely, and effective.

Ultimately, anticipating these scenarios strengthens WH’s resilience, protects public trust, and reinforces its mission to deliver seamless, patient-centred care even in the face of adversity.

Operational Readiness: Crisis Management Implementation for Woodlands Health
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