When a crisis hits, it tests a team’s strengths and weaknesses, revealing their true character.
In the healthcare industry, where people’s lives are at stake, the stakes are much higher.
For example, during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, the healthcare system was put to the test.
The outbreak exposed gaps in emergency medical response, healthcare management, and health financing.
It brought attention to the urgent need for reformed leadership and teamwork in healthcare across Nigeria and other sub-Saharan countries.
However, crises can also be transformative.
They provide opportunities to reflect on practices, refine systems, and correct inadequacies.
They catalyze evolution in leadership styles and teamwork ethos ā promoting proactive rather than reactive approaches; fostering collaboration over competition; emphasizing empathy in addition to efficiency.
Since the Ebola outbreak, there have been significant strides in emergency medical response readiness and contingency planning in our health sectors.
Emergency medicine, once an underrated field, is now gaining recognition as an essential component of comprehensive healthcare delivery.
However, we cannot afford to be complacent – there is still much work to do.
Remember, preparation is key.
As we strengthen our emergency medical response capabilities, we must also invest in leadership development and team building.
After all, having the right tools is not enough – we need the right people to wield them effectively too.