What does anticipatory risk management involve in NHSA Module 3?

• A. Reacting to adverse events after they occur
• B. Documenting patient consent after care
• C. Proactively identifying and mitigating risks before adverse events occur
• D. Ignoring potential risks during implementation

Answer: (C)

Anticipatory risk management is about spotting potential problems before they happen and putting safeguards in place to prevent or lessen them. It involves proactively identifying risks in a process, weighing how likely they are and how much harm they could cause, and then applying controls, training, checklists, standard procedures, and ongoing monitoring to reduce the chance of an adverse event. The goal is to prevent harm rather than deal with consequences after something goes wrong. This differs from reacting to adverse events after they occur, which is reactive risk management. It isn’t about documenting consent after care, and it isn’t about ignoring risks during implementation. The emphasis on identifying and mitigating risks before they occur is what makes this option the best choice.