Training Course on Crisis Leadership and Management in Healthcare

Module 1: Foundations of Crisis Leadership in Healthcare
Understanding Crisis Leadership
Difference between crisis leadership and routine healthcare management.
The psychology of leadership under uncertainty.
Traits of Effective Crisis Leaders
Decisiveness, adaptability, resilience, and empathy.
Maintaining ethical judgment under pressure.
Healthcare Crisis Scenarios
Pandemic outbreaks, bioterrorism, cyberattacks, mass casualties, and financial crises.
Ethical and Legal Considerations
Duty of care vs. personal risk.
Legal liabilities and governance structures during crises.
Case Reflection: Leadership lessons from COVID-19, Ebola, and natural disaster responses.

Module 2: Crisis Preparedness and Risk Management
Risk Identification and Assessment
Tools for anticipating threats (risk matrices, hazard vulnerability analysis).
Critical infrastructure and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Preparedness Strategies
Developing hospital emergency operations plans.
Stockpiling and resource allocation (PPE, medications, beds).
Building Organizational Resilience
Training and drills for staff preparedness.
Strengthening systems for continuity of care.
Community and National Preparedness
Coordinating with public health agencies and local governments.
Cross-sector collaborations (military, NGOs, private sector).
Workshop: Create a “Rapid Risk Assessment Tool” for a hypothetical hospital.

Module 3: Decision-Making and Communication Under Pressure
Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments
Rapid vs. deliberate decision-making models (OODA loop, SWOT under crisis).
Prioritization frameworks in resource scarcity (e.g., ventilator allocation).
Crisis Communication Strategies
Internal communications with staff and leadership teams.
Public communication to maintain trust.
Media handling: framing accurate, calm, and authoritative messaging.
Managing Fear and Misinformation
Combatting rumors and fake news.
Building transparency and public confidence.
Simulation: Conduct a live mock press briefing for a hospital outbreak crisis.

Module 4: Team Leadership and Coordination in Crisis Response
Leading Teams in High-Stress Environments
Psychological first aid for healthcare teams.
Building trust, cohesion, and morale under pressure.
Operational Coordination
Establishing clear roles and responsibilities.
Incident command system (ICS) for healthcare.
Interdisciplinary and Multi-Sector Collaboration
Working with paramedics, police, fire services, and military.
Partnering with NGOs and international aid organizations.
Preventing Burnout and Secondary Trauma
Supporting frontline workers with stress management and resilience tools.
Role Play: Crisis coordination exercise simulating a hospital response to a mass-casualty incident.

Module 5: Recovery, Evaluation, and Building Future Resilience
Post-Crisis Recovery
Transitioning from emergency to normal operations.
Restoring public trust and organizational reputation.
Evaluation and Debriefing
Conducting after-action reviews (AARs).
Identifying lessons learned and implementing corrective measures.
Sustaining Crisis Readiness
Embedding crisis management into organizational culture.
Continuous training, simulations, and system redesign.
Future-Proofing Healthcare Systems
Leveraging digital technologies (AI, predictive analytics, telemedicine).
Building flexible and adaptive healthcare models for future challenges.
Capstone Project: Develop a crisis leadership and management framework for a healthcare facility, addressing preparedness, response, and recovery