Operationalising compassion at scale: Paediatric reunification as a core business continuity function in healthcare education systems
Abstract
Family reunification following disasters involving children remains one of the most consistently underdeveloped capabilities in emergency management and business continuity practice.1,2,3 Despite decades of incident after-action reports identifying reunification failures as a major contributor to prolonged suffering, operational breakdown, and loss of public trust, many healthcare systems and educational institutions continue to treat reunification as an ad hoc humanitarian concern rather than a formal continuity function.4 This paper argues that paediatric reunification must be reframed as an enterprise-level business continuity risk requiring structured governance, cross-sector integration, and repeatable operational design.5,6,7 Drawing on documented disaster failures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and an implemented school–hospital partnership model, the paper presents a governed framework for integrating family information centres (FICs), school nurse liaisons, and coalition-based preparedness into continuity planning.8,9 The model demonstrates how compassion can be operationalised at scale without sacrificing command discipline, information security, or regulatory compliance.10,11 Implications for healthcare executives, emergency managers, and continuity professionals are explored, with particular attention to sustainability, legal alignment, and transferability across jurisdictions.12,13 This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
MSN, RN, RCSN, PHN, serves as the Director of Health Services for the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), where she provides strategic leadership for school-based health services supporting approximately 38,000 students across 43 schools. Overseeing a dedicated department of 27 Registered Credentialed School Nurses and 43 Health Assistants, Shadlie leverages nearly 20 years’ nursing experience, including a background in critical care and trauma, to bridge the gap between clinical excellence and districtwide systems leadership. Throughout her tenure, Shadlie has spearheaded initiatives focused on health policy development, care coordination, and sustainable health systems. A notable leader in emergency preparedness, she directed the adoption of IUSD’s inaugural naloxone policy, making it the first district in Orange County to stock the lifesaving medication at all school sites. Her commitment to collaborative safety is further evidenced by her role as Co-Chair of the School and Hospital Alliance for Response in Emergencies (SHARE), which fosters vital partnerships between school districts, hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), and public health agencies. Shadlie serves on the Board of the California School Nurse Organization (Southern Section) and the Orange County School Nurse Organization. In these capacities, she advocates for legislative change and professional development to strengthen school nursing practice statewide.
CHSP, CHEP, is a healthcare emergency management and business continuity professional with over two decades of experience strengthening organisational resilience across healthcare systems. He currently serves as Manager of Emergency Management and Business Continuity for Rady Children’s Health, Orange County, where he oversees the development, implementation, and sustainment of enterprise-wide emergency preparedness and continuity programmes. A respected regional and national leader in the field, Chris serves as Chair of the Southern California Pediatric Disaster Coalition, advancing bestpractice resources for paediatric hospitals. He is also Chair of the Orange County Health Care Coalition Hospital Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the School and Hospital Alliance for Response in Emergencies (SHARE), strengthening coordination between healthcare systems, school districts, higher education, and public agencies. Chris was the visionary behind the nationally recognised ‘15 ’til 50’ mass casualty incident response initiative, now considered a national best practice in healthcare preparedness.
Citation
Kensrue, Shadlie and Riccardi, Christopher (2026, August 6). Operationalising compassion at scale: Paediatric reunification as a core business continuity function in healthcare education systems. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 20, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.69554/TLPM7277.
Publications LLP