Hotwashes

Hotwashes are rapid debriefings conducted immediately after an incident, drill, or operation to capture initial observations and lessons learned while events are still fresh. The emphasis is on timeliness, informal structure, and concise discussion to surface actionable insights quickly. Hotwashes are used in a variety of fields, including public safety, healthcare, military, emergency management, and IT incident response. They are typically shorter and less formal than full after-action reviews.

The process usually involves a neutral facilitator guiding a focused discussion with participants who were involved in the event. Key questions cover what happened, what went well, what did not go as planned, and what immediate improvements are needed. Participants identify strengths to preserve and gaps to address, often culminating in a short list of prioritized recommendations or action items. Depending on the organization, notes may be captured verbally or in a brief written summary.

Outputs from a hotwash may include a prioritized action list, assignments with owners, and a compact lessons-learned brief intended for immediate dissemination to leadership and front-line teams. A follow-up review may occur later as part of a formal after-action process to verify implementation and assess impact.

Limitations of hotwashes include potential biases from recency or dominant voices, limited depth, and the absence of a comprehensive root-cause analysis. They are typically complemented by more thorough after-action reviews or formal performance assessments to confirm findings and ensure sustained improvements.