This white paper encourages hospitals to proactively develop and integrate a clinical crisis management plan into their organizational structure. It emphasizes the importance of full disclosure of adverse events, the role of leadership in developing a culture of safety, and the need for organizations to have a comprehensive crisis plan in place rather than reacting after events have occurred. The article provides a checklist and work plan for organizations to use in developing their plan, emphasizing that while their primary responsibility is to the patient and family, they should not neglect the second victims of adverse events—the frontline clinicians involved in the error.