5. Business continuity and disaster recovery
DOTC provides a safe, secure video conferencing IT environment to serve its customers’ requirements, ensures stability of patient records and continuity of the business, and promotes confidence in its ability to not only continuously provide goods and/or services, but also to recover quickly from disaster and minimise disruption.
Statement of Policy
To establish and implement policies and procedures for responding to an emergency or other occurrence (e.g., fire, vandalism, system failure, natural disaster) that damages systems that contain Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). DOTC is committed to maintaining formal practices for responding to an emergency or other occurrence that damages
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The Security Officer shall test backup procedures on an annual basis to ensure that exact copies of ePHI can be retrieved and made available. Such testing shall be documented by the Security Officer. To the extent such testing indicates need for improvement in backup procedures, the Security Officer shall identify and implement such improvements in a timely manner.
2. Disaster Recovery and Emergency Mode Operations Plan
a. The Security Officer shall be responsible for developing and regularly updating the written disaster recovery and emergency mode operations plan for the purpose of:
i. Restoring or recovering any loss of ePHI and/or systems necessary to make ePHI available in a timely manner caused by fire, vandalism, terrorism, system failure, or other emergency; and ii. Continuing operations during such time information systems are unavailable. Such written plan shall have a sufficient level of detail and explanation that a person unfamiliar with the system can implement the plan in case of an emergency or disaster. Copies of the plan shall be maintained on-site and at the off-site locations at which backups are stored or other secure off-site
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An inventory of hard copy forms and documents needed to record clinical, registration, and financial interactions with patients. iv. Identification of an emergency response team. Members of such team shall be responsible for the following:
1. Determining the impact of a disaster and/or system unavailability on DOTC’s operations.
2. In the event of a disaster, securing the site and providing ongoing physical security.
3. Retrieving lost data.
4. Identifying and implementing appropriate “work-arounds” during such time information systems are unavailable.
5. Taking such steps necessary to restore operations.
v. Procedures for responding to loss of electronic data including, but not limited to retrieval and loading of backup data or methods for recreating data should backup data be unavailable. The procedures should identify the order in which data is to be restored based on the criticality analysis performed as part of DOTC’s risk analysis. vi. Telephone numbers and/or e-mail addresses for all persons to be contacted in the event of a disaster, including the following:
1. Members of the immediate response team,
2. Facilities at which backup data is stored,
3. Information systems vendors, and
4. All current workforce
2) Maintain critical infrastructure centers (telegraph, bridges, hospitals) that provide a situational awareness capability, actionable information about emerging trends, imminent threats, and the status of any incidents that involve
There operations are in system in place to identify, manage and effectively respond to foreseeable crisis and emergencies. Collectively, these requirements are designed to enable our operations to safely return to full function as possible.
According the the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an emergency operations plan (EOP) dictates “who will do what, as well as when, with what resources, and by what authority--before, during, and immediately after an emergency” (FEMA, 1996). An effective EOP should contain a plan for all the potential disasters for a given region. These disasters would include natural disasters, man-man disasters including terrorist attacks, chemical weapon attacks and even nuclear war. The intent of the EOP is to publish a document intended to minimize the impact of the disaster, save lives while offering a path to recovery. In simple terms, an EOP “is the playbook by...
...includes data security and other information data related systems. It is for this reason where business continuity development plans today have standby battery powered-backups to supply power just in case the other sources are non-operational.
Emergency Preparedness and Response - Work with state and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.
The Urgent Matter Collaborative is a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The program was formed to identify, develop, and share innovative approaches, inventions, and models to improve Emergency Department (ED) flow and quality of care. Urgent Matters Collaborative has contributed to ED quality and patient flow improvement by working with hospitals throughout the United States.
The major preparedness measures taken include strategic planning for disaster, making changes in procurement procedures, developing a communication plan, and investigating insurance coverage.
Operational planning uses risk management by identifying resources, possible risks, and actions that should be taken for the operation and by using risk management greater success can be met with less negative consequences (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2001, p.9). Exercises that are planned follow a similar manner to that of operational planning focusing on possible risks and resources and provide homeland security professionals with practiced risk management skills (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2001, p.9). When disaster or terror strikes in a real world event risk management will always be present in determining the best course of actions and possible hazards that might get in the way of the mission (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2001, p.9). The final risk management application involves the research and development stage of homeland security which analysis risks and discovers new solutions to potential issues, this stage also focuses on using superior technology to accomplish homeland security missions (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2001,
Mindfulness is an ideal that has been present for thousands of years (positivepsychologyprogram.com). It has roots in almost every major religion: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and most renown, Buddhism and Hinduism (positivepsychologyprogram.com). Psychology Today defines mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention on the present.” Dr. Shauna Shapiro during a TEDx Talk defines mindfulness as “intentionally paying attention with kindness” (Shapiro, S., 2017). Mindfulness has many principles involved with it, but the short version is to be aware. It is to be aware of the present moment deliberately. Jon Kabat-Zinn, considered the father of the western movement for mindfulness by some, defines mindfulness as, “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally” (Bodhipaksa, 2007). We, as humans, get caught up in the business of life; so, we need to stay oriented to the present. Another way to describe this is “acting with awareness rather than on ‘automatic autopilot’” (Caldwell, et al, 2010). Mindfulness is non-judgmental about life. Mindfulness is to not be over-reactive by what’s going on around us (mindful.org). Mindfulness is being non-reactive to your environment. There are many things that stem from this thinking,
After receiving the grant, the Emergency Medical System (EMS) for Orange County came up with a comprehensive document that included the organization chart of the proposed implementations. The chart also covered the job descriptions of the staff to be involved in the new emergency management system (Autrey & Moss, 2006, p. 23). The HEICS system has a similar structure to the National Incident Management System structure, its standard procedures, and the terminology it uses. The design suits the management of several types of emergencies in the various hospitals based on the nature of the disaster at hand. The scope of the disasters covered by the structure includes external emergencies and disasters such as disease outbreaks, terrorism, or MCIs.
Six of these programs will be discussed in this paper of the purpose and the strategies of each one to help citizens before and after a disaster has occurs. History of hazard mitigation from the 20th Century to current times The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can be traced far back
In the event of crisis, it is important for the major crisis communication contributors to remain connected. This will ensure that information regarding crisis are well formulated to ensure accuracy and timeliness. The following are the key players in time of crisis: Incident Commander System (ICS) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) director, emergency manager, regional or state agency advisor, law enforcement, fire department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). While the entire aforementioned players are essential during crisis, depend on the magnitude of the disaster or crisis, ICS could be seen as crucial when disaster hit. ICS is used by agencies or organizations to manage emergencies.
Disaster Recovery Planning is the critical factor that can prevent headaches or nightmares experienced by an organization in times of disaster. Having a disaster recovery plan marks the difference between organizations that can successfully manage crises with minimal cost, effort and with maximum speed, and those organizations that cannot. By having back-up plans, not only for equipment and network recovery, but also detailed disaster recovery plans that precisely outline what steps each person involved in recovery efforts should undertake, an organization can improve their recovery time and minimize the disrupted time for their normal business functions. Thus it is essential that disaster recovery plans are carefully laid out and carefully updated regularly. Part of the plan should include a system where regular training occurs for network engineers and managers. In the disaster recovery process extra attention should also be paid to training any new employees who will have a critical role in this function. Also, the plan should require having the appropriate people actually practice what they would do to help recover business function should a disaster occur. Some organizations find it helpful to do this on a quarterly or semi-annual basis so that the plan stays current with the organization’s needs.
is in a state of readiness to contain the effects of a forecasted disastrous event to minimize loss of life, injury, and damage to property, the purpose is to provide rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and other services following an act of disaster, an effective preparedness strategy has the capability and resources to continue to sustain its essential functions with minimal alterations or stressors (businessdisctionary,2017). The last recognized phase is the response. By having the other phases of recovery, the response phase can be simply a matter of logistical supports. Response actions may include activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), evacuating threatened populations, opening shelters and providing mass care, emergency rescue and medical care, firefighting, and urban search and rescue (Sant LouiseCounty,2017). The response phases offer a live timeline of how measures are taken to ensure the most immediate Reponses are being utilized.
Most health care providers currently utilize electronic health records (EHRs), or will in the coming future. Network collapses, glitches, power outages and flaws within the system all have the possibility of occurring. Due to the plethora of sensitive information contained within the health care field, health care providers need to form backup plans. These backup plans will serve as preventative measures in order to keep the integrity of the health care data intact. Therefore, contingency plans are a clear necessity within the field.