Newsletter
Crisis Communications Planning
Crisis Communications & Executive Counsel
Crisis Communications & Executive Counsel for a Major Hospital System
A Steady Hand Through Overlapping Crises
When one of the Midwest’s largest hospital systems faced a wave of overlapping crises — labor disputes, physician unionization, patient safety issues & civil unrest — its lean communications team needed more than a vendor. They needed a partner who could think several moves ahead. Yes& stepped in to provide embedded crisis communications & executive counsel, helping leadership navigate each challenge with clarity, consistency & confidence.
Challenge
One of the Midwest’s largest hospital systems was facing an unprecedented pileup of crises at once — labor disputes, patient safety issues, physician unionization efforts, civil unrest & executive challenges — all under sustained public & media scrutiny. Its internal communications team was lean, and the stakes were high. The organization needed experienced crisis communications counselors who could support executive leadership in real time & help build lasting crisis readiness beyond any single issue.
Solution
Yes& partnered directly with executive leadership to build enterprise-wide crisis readiness. We developed scenario plans that anticipated how issues might unfold with the media & key stakeholders, crafted executive messaging & talking points, coached spokespeople for high-pressure moments, & built communication cascades so the right message reached the right audience fast. Instead of only responding to crises, we helped leadership get ahead of them — shaping the narrative before events broke, not after.
Results
Across a multi-year retainer spanning two consecutive agreements, Yes& helped leadership navigate five-plus simultaneous, high-profile crises while strengthening the organization’s long-term crisis readiness. We developed 6+ scenario-based communication strategies, equipping executives with pre-approved messaging & response frameworks that improved speed & consistency across every issue that came their way. Yes& became a trusted extension of the internal team — senior-level executive counsel during some of the organization’s most sensitive moments.
Crisis Communications Planning
Yes& CommCore helps organizations build proactive crisis communications plans & prepare leaders to respond with speed & confidence.
Takeaways
Crisis communications isn’t just about responding well — it’s about being ready before the headline hits. By pairing proactive scenario planning with hands-on executive coaching, Yes& helped this hospital system build lasting resilience, turning reactive fire drills into a repeatable playbook for whatever comes next.
