As clinicians, there are some skills we learn but hope to never use, like CPR. But we take the classes because hope alone is not enough. We know we must be prepared for the worst and that preparation can save lives.
Similarly, preparing for IT systems and network outages is necessary to ensure our patients continue receiving safe care during these downtimes. As we enter hurricane season and cyberattacks on health care organizations become more prevalent, this is even more critical.
What is HM doing to prepare?
Over the last year and a half, the nursing informatics team has partnered with operational leaders to ensure we’re prepared for an Epic downtime. We’ve updated and improved downtime resources, like checklists, quick reference guides and badge buddies, as well as conducted quarterly downtime drills. Most of these efforts have focused on the inpatient and ED units, though our last drill, in April, expanded to all areas within our hospitals.
Below are some of the results, including the top 10 participating clinical areas. With 396 total responses, this is the best participation we’ve seen yet, so thank you! In addition to helping you review downtime procedures, these drills also provide valuable feedback on where to focus additional education and resource development.
The Next Level of Preparedness
The threat of a cyberattack has become more about when, not if. The most recent example of this is the May 8 cyberattack on the Ascension health care network, impacting clinical operations. Considering the impact of a cyberattack is usually much more profound, causing widespread system outages for days and weeks at a time, HM system leadership has formed a cyber disaster committee.
While preparing for an Epic downtime is beneficial, HM continues to add other innovative technologies that will require more thoughtful and complex disaster preparations. This committee will work to ensure that everyone at HM is prepared for any situation. With these plans, our future downtime drills will become more robust and comprehensive. To be successful, we’ll need your ongoing support!
