Mike D. Sandulak (mike.sandulak@providence.org) is Director of Investigations at Providence St. Joseph Health in Portland, OR.
During these past few months, uncertainty about the impact of current events and their effect on healthcare has dominated concerns in our industry. From wondering how to best protect our employees and patients during a global pandemic to whether there will be another surge of patients entering our facilities seeking care, uncertainty is affecting everyone and the decisions we make. Particularly during these times, an organization’s investigations program plays a vital role in aiding an organization through the uncertainty. Specifically, investigations provide the opportunity to identify new risks and problems early, thoroughly examine and document reports, and assist leadership in their decision-making.