An academic medical center's response to widespread computer failure

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Hospital Administration
• Information Technology Management

Background:

• Hospitals increasingly rely on information technology (IT), making them vulnerable to disruptions.
• Effective emergency management and business continuity planning are crucial for mitigating IT downtime.
• Case studies offer valuable insights into hospital disaster preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the disruption of computer operations at Mount Sinai Medical Center (MSMC).
• To analyze the impact of IT downtime on hospital operations and patient care.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of MSMC's disaster management strategy.

Main Methods:

• Case study narration of IT disruption events at MSMC.
• Analysis of operational data during the IT downtime.
• Evaluation of the hospital's response and its impact on patient care and departmental efficiency.

Main Results:

• MSMC's disaster management strategy prevented critical compromise of patient care during IT failure.
• Notable increases in walkouts and emergency department (ED) time-to-disposition were observed.
• The incident underscored the importance of robust disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Conclusions:

• Hospital IT downtime requires comprehensive emergency management and business continuity plans.
• Utilizing operational data, akin to patient vital signs, can quantitatively assess and enhance disaster response.
• Proactive planning and data-driven evaluation are key to maintaining hospital functionality during technological crises.