The Architecture of Resilience: Designing Support Systems That Withstand Crisis

In today’s healthcare landscape, resilience isn’t a buzzword—it’s a survival imperative. Amid staffing crises, financial pressures, system consolidation and policy volatility, many hospitals find themselves threadbare and overstretched. Yet, while the spotlight typically shines on clinical care, the often-invisible scaffolding of operational and non-clinical systems determines whether an organization can withstand disruption or collapse under it.

This session will reframe how leaders understand the delivery of care by spotlighting the unsung heroes of hospital infrastructure: support services. From facilities and food operations to supply chain and environmental services, these functions aren’t ancillary—they are foundational to crisis response, continuity and long-term sustainability. You will hear case studies from healthcare systems that successfully navigated challenges—not by relying on heroics but by building intentional, aligned and agile support systems. Panelists will include leaders from provider organizations and operations partners who will demonstrate how their collaborative strategies helped health systems “bounce forward” after disruption. This session is designed for healthcare executives and operational leaders who want to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive resilience design. You will walk away with tangible tools and techniques that can be used immediately to assess and strengthen your own system’s ability to absorb stress while continuing to deliver high-quality care.