In this webinar hosted by Veoci, Memorial Hermann Health System shared their innovative approach to enhancing emergency preparedness through their Preparedness Week initiative. The discussion, led by Ashley Simon, Katie Lynn, and Michael Olivier, highlighted how the organization successfully cultivated a culture of readiness across multiple campuses by leveraging competition-based engagement strategies. Facing challenges such as time constraints, limited resources, competing priorities, and strict regulatory requirements, Memorial Hermann needed a creative solution to encourage proactive participation in emergency management activities.
To address these challenges, the team introduced Preparedness Week, a competition where hospitals and departments earned points for engaging in various emergency readiness activities, such as training exercises, emergency drills, and strategic planning efforts. Leadership buy-in played a crucial role in the success of the initiative, with executive engagement driving enthusiasm across all levels of staff. Additionally, the program encouraged cross-department collaboration, ensuring that teams beyond emergency management—such as nursing, security, IT, and environmental services—were actively involved. Themed daily activities, such as Cybersecurity Monday and Weather Wednesday, provided structured opportunities for staff to engage in preparedness efforts in a meaningful way.
The impact of the initiative was evident in both participation numbers and real-world application. Over 625 staff members took part in training sessions, 485 emergency communication lines were tested, and multiple full-scale emergency drills were conducted. The competition aspect kept teams engaged throughout, with final scores coming down to just a few points. More importantly, the preparedness efforts were put to the test when Hurricane Beryl struck just weeks after the initiative, validating the program’s effectiveness and ensuring that staff were ready to respond efficiently.
Memorial Hermann’s Preparedness Week showcases how emergency readiness can be both engaging and impactful when integrated into an organization’s culture. By using a competitive, structured approach, the health system successfully increased staff participation, strengthened interdepartmental collaboration, and reinforced the importance of proactive disaster planning. Their model serves as a valuable blueprint for other organizations looking to enhance their resilience programs.
