Planning

Plan to be claims free

Closely related to the Foundation of Prevention and Proactivity is the attribute of planning. Claims-free results do not happen by chance; they require proper planning. Strategic planning means taking into consideration how items such as staff hiring and retention, client selection, project type selection, training programs and quality assurance programs can all contribute to reducing claims. Project planning is also an important aspect of risk management. A project work plan can help focus on areas that reduce risk such as information flow, communication pathways, contract negotiations, and scope definition.

For a plan to be effective, it should be simple, workable, and readily communicable. Communicating the plan to all involved parties, reinforcing the need to adhere to it, and monitoring activities to see if it is being followed are all important steps to having an effective, claims-free practice.