Evaluating the Effectiveness of Business Continuity Management Systems in Enhancing Healthcare Organizational Resilience

Abstract

Healthcare organizations operate in environments characterized by uncertainty, complexity, and high vulnerability to disruptions. Events such as pandemics, cyberattacks, infrastructure failures, and natural disasters impose significant risks on the continuity of essential clinical and administrative functions. Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS), particularly those aligned with international frameworks such as ISO 22301, aim to build organizational resilience by enabling healthcare institutions to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions while safeguarding patient care. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of BCMS in strengthening healthcare organizational resilience through a comprehensive literature review, conceptual analysis, and synthesis of evidence from previous empirical studies. The study investigates how BCMS influences preparedness, recovery time performance, incident response capability, resource availability, and continuity of critical services. The methodology includes a qualitative review of existing research, thematic analysis, and conceptual modeling. Findings indicate that BCMS contributes significantly to resilience by improving risk awareness, establishing standardized response procedures, strengthening communication systems, and integrating organizational learning. However, challenges such as resource constraints, limited staff training, fragmented planning, and technological gaps hinder effective implementation. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving BCMS adoption and embeds a framework for continuous resilience enhancement in healthcare organizations.