Patients Come First Podcast - Lawrence Tan
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In this episode of the Patients Come First podcast, host interviews Larry Tan, System Safety Officer at ChristianaCare Health Services in Delaware, about his extensive career in healthcare safety and emergency management. Tan shares his journey from paramedic to emergency management leader, highlighting his 37-year tenure as chief of a county EMS agency and his transition into health system safety. He emphasizes the critical importance of emergency management in healthcare—covering risk assessment, preparedness, response, and recovery—particularly in light of rising workplace violence and the complexities of managing safety across large, diverse outpatient networks. Tan also previews his upcoming presentation at the 2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Preparedness Summit, where he’ll discuss standardizing safety protocols across 2,400 outpatient locations in 22 states. The conversation closes with personal insights, including Tan’s unpopular opinion about disliking hot food and his admiration for active listening as a leadership trait.
Emergency management in healthcare is a multidisciplinary effort involving safety, security, training, and recovery to ensure continuity of care during crises.
Workplace violence in healthcare is a growing concern, requiring coordinated strategies across clinical, security, and administrative teams to prevent, report, and respond.
Standardizing safety protocols across large, geographically dispersed outpatient systems is a complex but achievable challenge with strong leadership and collaboration.
Active listening is a vital leadership skill that enables deeper understanding and more effective decision-making in high-stakes environments.
The 2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Preparedness Summit offers a valuable opportunity for professionals to learn from experts like Larry Tan on enterprise-wide safety strategies.
Introduction and Guest Welcome
Introduction to the Patients Come First podcast series, featuring Larry Tan, System Safety Officer at ChristianaCare Health Services. Overview of the episode's focus on healthcare safety, emergency management, and Tan's upcoming speaking role at the 2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Preparedness Summit.
Larry Tan's Professional Journey
Tan recounts his career path from paramedic to EMS chief, including roles in public and private healthcare, academic teaching, and leadership in national emergency services organizations. He emphasizes the collaborative nature of his achievements.
The Importance of Emergency Management in Healthcare
“A good emergency management program is going to allow an organization to evaluate whether they can continue operations versus have to close whenever things become a challenge.”
Addressing Workplace Violence in Healthcare
“It's not just a safety issue, it's a security issue. It's not just a security issue, it's a training issue. It's not just a training issue, it's an evaluation of the risk.”
Enterprise Safety in Outpatient Settings
“We're talking about 2,400 outpatient points of care in 22 states with each state essentially being a separate market.”
“It's not just a safety issue, it's a security issue. It's not just a security issue, it's a training issue. It's not just a training issue, it's an evaluation of the risk.”
“A good emergency management program is going to allow an organization to evaluate whether they can continue operations versus have to close whenever things become a challenge.”
“We're talking about 2,400 outpatient points of care in 22 states with each state essentially being a separate market.”
Host
Guest
Larry Tan
person
ChristianaCare Health Services
organization
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
organization
2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Preparedness Summit
other
Delaware
place
National Commission for Children and Disasters
organization
International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs
organization
Newark, Delaware
place
COVID-19 pandemic
other
Severe weather warnings
other
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