Murphy, S., indicated in his work that “the risk management is comparable to that of the immune system”. Considering that is not a thing or a part of something, but it is co-existing with each other like that of an organ or a part of it. Connecting into a larger organ or organization that must be able to go beyond its performance perfectly. Murphy, S., conveyed that the similarities between the immune system and the risk management are that one cannot fix or do something immediately when something is wrong. But to have a perfect immune system, one has to live a healthy lifestyle, have the best healthy eating habit and exercise to have an active physical activity as well. This is just the same goes with risk management, one will never give attention to a problem unless something wrong is identified. This exactly how the risk management works in the Mayo Clinic. The aim of the risk management and the immune system is not to put an end at all the bad things happening, but on the contrary, the risk management will learn from the bad occurrence that happened and existed in the healthcare facility. Furthermore, in view of this paper, the immune system is susceptible to all kinds of germs and virus that is a fact and no one is able to stop it from doing so, and the reality is that among this virus and germs the body gets stronger. Likewise, a tough organization needs to keep an eye on the same process as a matter of fact, this could make or break of an organization just like in the case of the Mayo Clinic. It is our reaction and adjustment to the case defines if we get resilient or vulnerable.
Upon watching the video from Phigenics. The Mayo Clinic openly presented the case of Legionella that affected their facility since it is already in their 150th years’ existing. They are accepting the fact they are experiencing some flaws from their designs and admittedly the structures of their buildings are really old. The organization facing this problem cooperatively acted on the problem. Facility management come together with infection control professionals and conceived a processing extent that ultimately led to a Water Management Program. Phigenics. Made it clear that their goal was “to be able to address the risks to the patients related with waterborne contaminants, either both biological and corrosion connected, in potable water systems.” Just like what is expected from a risk management program of a healthcare facility, the Mayo Clinic risk management program established a scope of work and went to leadership for project approval and funding. Similar procedures were taken by the risk management, by doing so there is no conflict in their implementation of the risk management program. They were able to involve Phigenics as a Legionella expert and Legionella assessing company to help them work out and put into operation a comprehensive and maintainable Water Management Program.
The conception of a multi-disciplinary team working within the hospital and outside of the facility with the assistance from the experts in the infection control and industrial hygiene. These working groups are consisting of the maintenance technicians, supervisors and mechanical engineers who would work out through the procedures for hazard control. It is important to take note of that the program would cover twenty-six buildings with the coverage area of 7,500,000 square feet, so an effective leadership is significant. Hence, the creation of a multi-disciplinary team will function as the overseer plays a vital role in the implementation and publishing of certain policy and guidelines in the healthcare facility for public awareness. Phigenics. Illustrates in their video, besides in the inclusion of in-house personnel, the Water Management Team included consultants from Phigenics. This team would be in charge of supervision by a specialist care and secondary progress, with their task as clearing a path for hazard control activities, and advancing improvements. As a part of their job description being a liaison with administration and ensured teams were communicating and documenting their work correctly. Full comprehensive reporting in their video presentation Phigenics. With diagrams and flow charts were displayed to show that the risk management program is really being followed by the management of the Mayo Clinic. Phigenics. Show the diagram about the processing of water throughout each building with each processing step named and numbered. From there the team completed a population-based risk assessment, this is regarded as areas with immunosuppressed patients as very high risk and non-patient areas, like waiting rooms, as low- risk areas. Generally speaking, everything that a healthcare facility’s risk management program strategies are being followed accordingly by the Mayo Clinic thus there is no inconsistency or whatsoever in this issue. Just to make sure that the management is strictly following the steps of the risk management facility program, the next step is to perform a systemic hazard analysis.
For this step, the team reviewed the flow diagrams carefully to identify hazards, then they characterize which risks are significant or not, and afterwards, the team determines if additional hazard control was needed. This is really what an organization should be doing and applying in their risk management program. Being under a good leadership the Mayo Clinic Water Management Team were able to identify seven areas as “control locations” as indicated in Phigenics. In supporting to regulate the hazards in these locations, team members are expected to develop control limits, then they chose monitoring methods, and lastly, the team is set to revise certain actions further. By processing and gathering of data, the team is closely observing the chlorine reaction to the water treatment plant. This procedure was also put into practice with the rest of the six controlled locations with the additional places where water is consumed either at drinking fountains and vendo machines or for the use in the restrooms. It is vital to monitor where the flow of water is coming to and coming from the pipes and being distributed to the said controlled locations. And true to its goal and purpose, all of this information was documented and accessible to all team members in Mayo Clinic’s phiAnalytics Water Management Program website. It is necessary to publish the managements’ action regarding the hazard control conflict. Used for the last two steps in the undertaking of risk management, are verification and validation. Intended for Mayo, the program is verified through online logs, oversight from the team, and quarterly check-in meetings. As stated earlier, everything must be documented for all the activities in the duration of the water treatment management program. Since it is easy for everyone to check on the Mayo clinic’s website anytime, then the organization is responsible for correct and comprehensive documentation that is verified by the team to give the public a verified data and report.
Fortunately, the Mayo Clinic has never had a Legionella outbreak. This framework allows them to act in response quickly to get a situation under control promptly and prove that they had done all in their power to prevent it in the first place. With all the data and reports about the incident, there is never a doubt that by establishing a Water management program provides a means to act on in a coordinated manner should a conflict surfaces. Upon investigation during the experiment is being done, the Mayo Clinic is proud to say that no matching Legionella was detected in the potable water system or inpatient hospital rooms. This is all because of good leadership in providing a quality healthcare assurance program is implanted in a healthcare facility. Hopefully, healthcare facilities will be like that of the Mayo Clinic having as their goal is to serve and render quality healthcare services to the people.