In a disaster, all focus is on getting your business back up and running. Whether the disaster is natural or manmade, it’s all about continuing daily operations and avoiding costly downtime. This means that planning ahead is key to disaster recovery success.
Here is a list of some disaster recovery plan “to do’s”:
- Build the plan with your dental staff – If your staff knows the plan, they will be able to help in the recovery.
- Analyze – Analyze the potential impact on your practice from various disaster scenarios, noting the practice’s strengths and vulnerabilities.
- Develop your strategy – Write down your plan and review it regularly.
When planning for a disaster, digital information security can be low on the list of considerations. Some steps to take while disaster recovery planning, in regards to digital information are:
- Perform daily backups of your system – this way any and all changes made to your data will be backed up for you and not lost in case of disaster.
- Have your backups stored in an offsite location – this will help in a case where a disaster destroys your entire physical office location.
- Make sure you can access your patient information – during or soon after a disaster at your office, patients may still need access to their health information. You must be able to access and provide the information they request.
It is important to have written processes, policies and procedures related to your office’s disaster recovery plan. This way, if a disaster ever was to strike, your office will be prepared.
The Digital Dental Record is your independent resource and trusted advisor for HIPAA-compliant business and technology solutions. Visit us at www.dentalrecord.com.
