The Four Missing Keys to Business Continuity Management in Healthcare – Avalution
On the surface, one would expect healthcare organizations, particularly hospitals, to have well-developed, resilient business continuity programs. After all, who better understands the importance of organization and preparedness when responding to crises? However, recent research conducted by BCPWHO (Business Continuity Planning Workgroup for Healthcare Organizations) indicates most healthcare groups focus on the Joint Commission mandated areas of emergency management and IT disaster recovery. Emergency management typically focuses on the role of a hospital as a first responder – it is mostly outward facing to ensure that clinical operations can continue no matter what happens to the physical hospital or community. IT disaster recovery, another area of focus, addresses protecting critical clinical systems that, if unavailable, would affect patient care and safety.
