HAP Blog

As we head into the last quarter of 2020, health care systems and workforce throughout Pennsylvania continue to show amazing resilience. Since late February, the entire health care community has been deeply engaged in COVID-19 response, including efforts to control and contain the virus, and care for patients. The pace of this event persists; it clearly is a long-term effort that involves a whole of community response.

I’ve worked in emergency management in the Southeastern region of Pennsylvania for a long time. I feel like I’ve seen it all and planned for it all. Emergency managers develop plans for events through an approach we call, “All-Hazards Planning.” 

In my line of work, it’s not unusual to face a crisis—either during training or responding to one in real time. Experiences in public safety, safety consulting, and emergency management (EM) have taught us that, during an emergency—when seconds can make all the difference—effective leadership can make or break a team. I’ve worked with some great leaders during my tenure, and many of the best ones have adopted a transformational style of leadership. Their examples are the ones that I have used most often as I strive to be an effective leader in my own work in the EM community.

For close to ten years, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) has embraced an emergency management (EM) program, supporting organizations across the commonwealth before, during, and after crisis. HAP’s EM program has evolved during this time to include not only association members but also partners in the health care system.

The Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace turns five this year.