"Putting out fires" may not be in a leader's job description, but it's certainly part of the daily operations. Unexpected emergencies should be expected in a medical practice; thus, leaders must be knowledgeable on how to manage those last-minute crises. - Always conduct a daily huddle: Communication is key to succeeding throughout the day and allows for quick updates about unplanned emergencies. - Train your staff: Keep them prepared and ready to handle the unexpected. - Assign roles for your team: Emergencies are managed better when everyone is assigned a specific task. When a leader is ready and is also engaging their team to prepare, emergencies will seem less stressful and easier to manage without interrupting a daily routine.

Having a SWAT team and a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) will always help you handle emergencies effectively. To achieve this, you should train team members who have competencies in adaptability, problem-solving, and goal orientation. It’s also important to have a backup plan in case technology fails, ensuring that, regardless of location or existing duties, there is a work plan in place to quickly address the emergency or allow team members to continue their tasks from anywhere. Additionally, as part of your management strategy, ensure that every team member, including yourself, has some open time in their schedule to address potential emergencies.

The hardest part is managing emergencies when everything becomes urgent. Unfortunately there is no recipe that guarantees success but rather a balance between instinct listening and remembering this : if everything is urgent then nothing is

Some of the best practices - Take a moment to stay calm and assess the situation. Prioritize the emergency tasks based on their urgency and impact. Communicate clearly with your team about the changes and what needs immediate attention. Delegate tasks if necessary to ensure nothing important is overlooked. Adjust your daily routine to make space for handling the emergency while keeping essential tasks on track. Use any flexible time to catch up on routine work once the emergency is under control. Bottom line, Stay organized and focused.