Alison Brisson – Cambridge Health Alliance

From small towns in rural America to bustling city metropolises, healthcare needs are universal: easy access to reliable, high-quality care. Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) in Massachusetts, serving over 140,000 patients in and around Boston, is committed to meeting these needs. A key figure in this effort is Alison Brisson, the vice president of facilities and support services.

“We regularly look at the physical environment, educate our staff and vendors on risk mitigation strategies, and do what we can to provide safe access to care,” Brisson says.

She focuses on ensuring that the facilities are safe and conducive to healing, especially within CHA’s primarily behavioral health facilities.

Brisson is spearheading several key initiatives to enhance safety and operational efficiency within the organization. Her projects focus on continuous improvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and comprehensive education for staff and vendors, particularly within the behavioral health environment.

Innovative solutions

One of Brisson’s major projects involves setting up a multidisciplinary team to conduct regular evaluations within CHA’s spaces. This initiative focuses on safety and ligature risk assessment to identify and mitigate potential hazards. Brisson ensures that a wide range of viewpoints contribute to the assessment process by incorporating diverse perspectives, including those from non-clinical departments. She believes that no one is better than a group or team, emphasizing the importance of collective insights from facilities and clinical perspectives. This synergy allows for the identification of overlooked issues and fosters innovative solutions.

The rounding process identifies risks and facilitates the development of mutual understanding among team members. Through ongoing conversations, the team can refine processes and solutions, ultimately enhancing the safety of patients and staff. Brisson highlights that this approach creates an environment best suited for the care delivered and underscores the lifesaving potential of these evaluations.

Another significant project led by Brisson is the education of staff and vendors on risk mitigation strategies specific to the behavioral health environment. She compares working in this setting to doing something with surgical precision, where every detail matters. Contractors working on-site must meticulously account for their tools to prevent them from being used for self-harm. They adhere to strict procedures to ensure the safety of patients and themselves, considering the impact of sounds and other environmental factors on patients.

This educational initiative also includes HIPAA awareness and training on patient privacy, emphasizing a holistic approach to safety and patient experience. Brisson acknowledges this is an ongoing process of evolution and improvement, building on systems previously established at Concord Hospital and continuously enhancing them at CHA.

Through these projects, Brisson is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and innovative environment at CHA. Her leadership in multidisciplinary collaboration and comprehensive education highlights her dedication to the well-being of patients and staff, reinforcing CHA’s mission of providing high-quality care.

Mission-driven healthcare

Brisson understands the importance of community relations. Regular meetings with neighbors and stakeholders ensure that the needs of the patients and the community are met. She highlights the importance of outdoor time for patients, balancing this need with maintaining a peaceful environment for the surrounding community.

In her role at CHA, Brisson is responsible for all aspects of facilities management, including maintenance, planning, design and construction, security and safety, food service, real estate, and environmental services. She oversees a team of directors who manage their respective teams, all working towards executing CHA’s strategic plan.

Brisson also plays a crucial role in financial management, handling expense and budget work to ensure that CHA’s resources effectively support its mission of serving the underserved. CHA, a safety net hospital system with three hospital campuses and a network of primary and specialty care centers, provides essential healthcare services to the community.

As a senior leader, Brisson ensures that her teams have the resources and support they need to align with the organization’s strategic plan. Through regular assessments and education on risk mitigation strategies, Brisson and her team are enhancing safety, accessibility to care, and the overall healing environment at CHA.

Brisson’s dedication and leadership are integral to Cambridge Health Alliance’s mission of providing high-quality, accessible healthcare to all, particularly the underserved. Her efforts in creating a safe and healing environment demonstrate her commitment to the well-being of patients and the community.

Dedication to healthcare

Brisson has established a distinguished career in healthcare administration that is marked by strategic leadership and a commitment to operational excellence. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Southern New Hampshire University. This educational foundation equipped her with essential skills in management, finance, and operations, preparing her for the complex challenges of the healthcare industry.

Her professional trajectory gained momentum during her five-year tenure at Concord Hospital Health System, where she was the director of facilities and support services. In this role, Brisson demonstrated exceptional leadership, overseeing the hospital’s operational aspects, maintaining facilities to the highest standards, and ensuring support services operated efficiently. Her contributions were crucial in enhancing the hospital’s operational effectiveness, which, in turn, improved patient care and staff satisfaction.

In March 2023, Brisson joined Cambridge Health Alliance as the vice president of facilities and support services. This role is a testament to her expertise and the impressive results she achieved at Concord Hospital Health System. At CHA, Brisson continues to leverage her extensive experience and leadership skills to oversee the maintenance and operational efficiency of the facilities. Her responsibilities aim to foster a safe and conducive environment for patients and healthcare professionals.