Some thoughts on business continuity planning

Over the years despite people mentioning 5 9s reliability its surprising how often the computers have gone off.

Need to think through some of the common scenarios.

Phone lines go down – can you use social media to spread the message. Our main phone system is VOIP – we have a couple of normal lines and a mobile. CSU have a list of key peoples mobiles.

Power goes out

UPS devices for a couple of key machines and printers. Keep power going for an hour or so.

Laptops (as long as they are charged) with main systems installed and kept up to date – nothing worse than turning it on in an emergency and finding it has to downlaod a load of updates

loss of internet

4G – local wifi

knowing who is coming. backup appointment lists.

create a search that runs daily that outputs file to hard disk or usb with summary notes which can be printed.

one of the problems is if you carry on seeing people – typing in the notes. custom form that has pt ID on it and space for Hx and Ex and actions

and some boxes for QOF.

admin can scan it on after and code anything that needs coding without GPs having to spend days typing in notes.

Stress test your system.

get an outsider in to run through scenarios with you. famous story about richard feynman inspecting a nuclear plant pointing to a valve at random saying what happens if this breaks.