Recent collaboration between the Healthcare Risk Managers’ Forum (HRMF) and the HMI which has resulted in an incorporation of the HRMF into the HMI heralds the dawning of an exciting era of dialogue and debate writes Cora McGaughan.
Recent collaboration between the Healthcare Risk Managers’ Forum (HRMF) and the HMI has resulted in an incorporation of the HRMF into the HMI. This heralds the dawning of an exciting era of dialogue and debate that will progress thinking and practise in important healthcare management and risk management issues.
The HRMF was founded as the “Clinical Risk Managers Forum” (CRMF) by Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurances Ltd., in September 2000. At that time, the Chief Executive Officers from the former Health Boards supported the Forum by mandating it and nominating their own representatives. Healthcare risk management was an embryonic endeavour in Ireland at that time and the opportunity for networking and sharing experiences benefited both the members and their organisations.
Much change has ensued in our health service in the intervening period. The CRMF changed its title to the Healthcare Risk Managers’ Forum (HRMF) with the objective of broadening its remit to encompass an integrated approach to the management of healthcare risk. In addition, the strategy of the HRMF responded to the changes within the health service by pursuing its own change management programme. This ensured that it continued to address the evolving needs of its members and the health services. The membership of the HRMF includes professionals with a remit for healthcare risk management working in the HSE, voluntary and private health and social care services.
With such a membership, the HRMF is well positioned to achieve its mission to act as a national advisory body on healthcare risk management in Ireland; to facilitate learning and sharing of information for members, and to advance healthcare risk management knowledge and practice across the health service.
The Healthcare Risk Managers’ Forum is well positioned to achieve its mission to act as a national advisory body on healthcare risk management in Ireland
The collaboration between HMI and the HRMF brings benefits for the members of both organisations and the Irish health system alike. The focus of the HRMF on evidence based decision making for optimum healthcare risk management outcomes can provide the HMI with supporting evidence for recommendations and policy positions in relation to health management. HMI’s higher profile, wider membership and independence will provide a “safe” and “independent” platform for the HRMF’s work to reach a wider audience.
Enabling the dialogue on healthcare risk management issues to take place in the context of the broader healthcare management agenda will open many doors of opportunity to progress healthcare risk management as a fundamental and integral part of general healthcare management. This can only benefit those we serve, and those who serve in our health services.
Cora McGaughan
Chairperson, Healthcare Risk Managers Forum.
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