Types of crises experienced by health organisations

Abstract

Introduction: Changes in modern society have resulted in an increasing need for organisations to protect themselves, their employees and their interests from diverse risks and threats that include terrorism, litigation and threats to personal safety and reputation. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of such crises to inform organisational planning and preparedness and to update managers on the types of crises likely to confront them.

Method: This study collected data from Chief Executive Officers or other key decision-makers from 2007 to 2008, on several categories of crisis types as experienced by five chiropractic practices, eight physiotherapy practices, five podiatry practices, five aged care facilities, six dental practices, 19 hospitals, 11 medical centres and 18 pharmacies.

Results: Hospitals experienced significantly more crises than other organisations apart from chiropractic practices and pharmacies. Dental clinics were disproportionately crisis prone in some areas and podiatry was the least crisis prone. Overall, product recalls occurred three to ten times more than most other types.

Conclusion: A large amount of variance in the number and type of crises experienced between different organisations was observed although specific types of crises were increasingly associated with diminished organisational size.