Canadian Lawyer InHouse

39 CANADIANLAWYERMAG.COM/INHOUSE SEPTEMBER 2017 F aced with evolving challenges in the health-care industry driven by shift- ing demographics, complex patient needs and fiscal constraints, Erica Zarkov- ich, general counsel, chief privacy of- ficer and corporate secretary at Cancer Care Ontario, decided it was time for an organization-wide enterprise risk man- agement program focused on effective risk management and risk intelligence. The program, which was launched in 2015, has already shown significant prog- ress. Open discussions with staff are en- couraged in an effort to proactively identify risks and opportunities and to focus staff on risk intelligent thinking. The process is in- tegrated into the organization's day-to-day operations. SIMPLICITY Focusing on starting dialogues and creating simple processes has promoted big-picture thinking and minimized the apprehension around complex models and methodologies normally associated with ERM. CUSTOMIZATION A consultative approach is used to work with each of CCO's many lines of business, focusing on their unique governance struc- tures and risk profiles. Recognizing that one size does not fit all is an essential out- look required to effectively integrate ERM into existing operations. CCO's compliance program is similarly premised on the principles of ERM. LEARNING BY DOING After providing a high-level introduction to ERM across the organization, the focus has quickly shifted to a more hands-on ap- proach. Individualized workshops in small group settings allow teams to identify and mitigate their most pressing risks. Once they have tackled these challenges in a facil - itated workshop, they are better equipped to use ERM as a tool in their daily operations. COLLABORATION While the program promotes collaboration at all levels, a critical program development has been the formation of a risk com- mittee comprised of directors and se- nior managers from across CCO. The risk committee provides a venue to openly dis- cuss and triage risks. TONE AT THE TOP Partnerships with senior management and the board are key components of the pro- gram. Significant risks identified at the committee level are brought to the executive team and board of directors, who provide valuable insight in their areas of expertise. These dynamic and flexible cornerstones have been instrumental to the program's achievements, promoting a cultural shift and readying the organization to effectively deal with the challenges facing Ontario's health-care system. Although CCO's legal department is not new to risk management, 2015 marked the launch of a full risk management program, which resides in the legal department. Prior to this, risk management had been a report - ing exercise without a true mechanism to prioritize or escalate risks, allow for open discussion or utilize the concept of risk management in decision-making and opera- tional processes. The new ERM framework focuses on adding value through the inte- gration of ERM at all levels of the hierarchy to ensure that information related to risks flows vertically and horizontally throughout the organizational structure. Whereas previous attempts at ERM fo - cused primarily on reporting and filling in templates, the newly launched ERM program is fully dependent on organiza- tion-wide collaboration and co-ordination. Formal discussions are held with directors, vice presidents and board members to allow risks to be properly escalated and mitigation strategies implemented and monitored. "Our board has become particularly en - gaged in this topic and has provided signifi- cant praise for the quality of work generated by the ERM team," said Jenna Lasky, group manager of enterprise risk, who nominated Zarkovich for the award. "The progress made with respect to in - tegrating ERM across CCO is also readily apparent in the quality of discussions oc- curring and in the risks now being identi- fied," Lasky said. "Whereas previously our organization's discussion on risk was related only to risks within our span of control, it has now expanded to include those impact- ing Ontario's health system at large. "As a result, we are now able to identify and provide discussion to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on these broader system risks and act as a key partner in supplying the information required to better support risk management across the province." IH Rolling out enterprise risk management in health-care setting By Jennifer Brown ROBIN KUNISKI Erica Zarkovich, general counsel, chief privacy officer and corporate secretary, Cancer Care Ontario. Category: Risk Management Department size: Small, public sector Organization: Cancer Care Ontario

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