Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of crisis leadership preparedness facility administrators report frontline healthcare leaders are trained to perform during an exploding crisis in Los Angeles County healthcare facilities, providing emergency services. Methodology. This was a mixed method descriptive study. The sample for this study was the total population of 59 healthcare facilities in Los Angeles County, providing emergency services. Fifty-eight healthcare administrators completed a questionnaire survey. The researcher used qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the data collected. Findings. The survey found statistical significant differences in the (a) participation of Ancillary Staff in crisis leadership preparedness by employee pool; and (b) proficiency levels to perform tasks, characteristics, and leadership styles in the 3 stages of an exploding crisis by employee pool, number of patient beds, and healthcare facility type. Conclusions. It is fair to state many smaller community hospitals usually have less than 500 employees and less than 100 beds. In many comparisons, community hospitals are not as able to perform the identified tasks, characteristics, and leadership styles as medical centers and trauma centers especially in the second and third stages of an exploding crisis. Also, healthcare facilities with fewer than 500 employees are not as able as healthcare facilities with more than 500 employees to perform the identified tasks, characteristics, and leadership styles especially in the second and third stages of an exploding crisis. Recommendations. Future studies could (a) examine frontline leaders from the 58 healthcare facilities that engaged in this study to find out their perceived level of crisis leadership preparedness; (b) evaluate other counties in California to discover what level of crisis leadership preparedness frontline healthcare leaders in other healthcare facilities are trained to perform during an exploding crisis; and (c) examine other large counties throughout the United States to determine what level of crisis leadership preparedness frontline healthcare leaders in other healthcare facilities are trained to perform during an exploding crisis.