Tip of the week: Perform a thorough systems inventory when drafting a disaster recovery plan
HIM Connection, July 1, 2008
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When drafting a disaster recovery plan, it’s important to know where data is stored, says Chris Apgar, CISSP, president of Apgar & Associates, LLC, in Portland, OR. Data availability not only helps ensure patient safety during emergencies and disasters, it’s also a Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) and HIPAA requirement.
Conducting an inventory requires performing a thorough review of the following:
- All hardware, including biomedical devices, life support, and other equipment for critical procedures
- All software (i.e., systems that contain clinical patient information), relevant staff members (i.e., those who need to access patient information to keep the business running), and data (i.e., location and backup procedures)
Assisting with the maintenance of this inventory may be a daunting task for HIM directors. Apgar suggests delegating oversight for portions of the inventory to the individual who has direct operational responsibility for that area of the hospital. “You end up with a far better plan, and it’s a lot less disruptive of the business,” he says.
Editor’s note: This tip was excerpted from the July issue of Medical Records Briefing. For more information, visit www.hcpro.com/content/213054.cfm.
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