Christina's Considerations

Preparing for a HIPAA Audit & Avoiding Disaster

I haven't posted an infographic in a while and I like this one because it combines two of my favorite interest areas ... health IT and preparing for disasters (or in this case avoiding one). Read more →

Multibriefs: Exclusives for Healthcare Administration Associations

Over the years I've contributed articles to several publications, and often repeatedly, because we have built up a mutually beneficial relationship. As a writer, I think any of them will tell you I produce on time and the continuing invites... Read more →

Ethical decisions: It comes down to strong leadership and effective planning...

For months I've been listening to books for leisure, but with this latest I'm back on to my professional interests. However, this one is also personal. If you are involved in hospital, sub acute or SNF leadership or active with... Read more →

Gun Violence Restraining Order: An idea who's time has come?

The idea of a gun violence restraining order is being proposed in wake of the recent killings just off the UCSB campus and the warning signs that were fully recognized too late. The idea is that family and friends could... Read more →

Health IT Security Risk Assessment Tool

HHS has released a new security risk assessment tool to help providers, and perhaps business partners, uncover potential weaknesses in their security policies, processes and systems. Using the tool, providers will be guided as they address risk and security practices... Read more →

Creole and Crime: The pathologist finds the killer!

My blog seems to have opened up a floodgate of physician writers. The first trickles came from Dr. Gelber and Dr. Parsons, but I've now been introduced to a couple of new writers and medical mystery and suspense is becoming... Read more →

DeLauro Statement on Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures

I received many press releases, but don't post on the vast majority. But, the one below, from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro on her comments at the first Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing Of 2014, is different. It is different because I've been... Read more →

In-Place Patient Decontamination Training

I came across a great example of using social media for disaster preparedness activities. It is a YouTube video of Vandenberg's 30th Medical Group training on In-place Patient Decontamination. Beyond just sharing the video of the with the world, this... Read more →

Business Continuity Planning

I've been planning for disasters for years - in the hospital, across communities and ensuring my family is prepared if I need to respond. Businesses need to prepare, especially those who are essential to response and recovery activities. This video... Read more →

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month -- a time for all individuals and communities to better prepare for an emergency. To get started, visit the ready.gov site. To learn how you can promote emergency preparedness in your community and access tools... Read more →

Surge Exercises: Bombings and Blast Injuries

I’ve been watching some of the news coverage of the bombing incident in Boston, but have been focused on those aspects related to emergency response. This event is a reality check for me because just a couple of years ago... Read more →

New Tools for Emergencies: Social Media

Sometimes graphics really can say it all... To view the full survey and infographic: Full Survey PowerPoint Infographic as jpeg Infographic as PDF By the way, I saw this in action here in California during the last hurricane to roll... Read more →

ShakeOut: Drill in your community or from your computer!

Ever been in an earthquake? It can be pretty scary. On October 18th, Shakeout.org is hosting the largest ever earthquake drill. In as little as 90 seconds you can learn and practice what steps to take to protect yourself and... Read more →

Get Ready with Captain Laz

One of my Santa Paula fire-fighting friends has a new blog and I'm hoping some of my readers will go visit his writings on being prepared for a disaster! His first post was about the People Like You video, which... Read more →

Best Practices in Healthcare Disaster Recovery Planning

The shift to more digital healthcare environments means that health IT disaster recovery planning is even more critical than it was in the past. Not long ago, Health Management Technology had an article that does a nice job of taking... Read more →

Getting It Done: Strategies for Clinical & Financial Success

Dr. Ken Cohn is one of my virtual friends and like me, a writer and blogger. He lives on the East Coast and at one time did live here in Santa Barbara, however the Internet has facilitated our connections and... Read more →

Patient Care in a Crisis

By now, many of my regular blog followers should have figured out I'm a girl from New Orleans and I also have a specific interest in emergency preparedness and disaster planning, especially for hospitals. Once again, I get to post... Read more →

What I saw/learned at HIMSS12 - Highlights

It has taken me a while to catch up and recover from being at HIMSS12 last week, but I've finally had a chance to sit down and reflect on what I saw and learned during that busy week. So below... Read more →

Protecting Workers Against Violence is Worth the Cost

I was recently interviewed for an article in Healthcare Finance News about the cost of protecting workers against violence. It came about because of a ANA survey looking safety concerns in the workplace and the report that healthcare facilities are... Read more →

Patient Safety Toolkits from AHRQ

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has sets of toolkits designed to help health care institutions and clinicians provide—and consumers receive—safe, quality health care at various points in the health care process—in the hospital, in the emergency department,... Read more →

ACP Ethics Manual on Social Media, Catastrophes, and More

The American College of Physicians has released an update to its Ethics Manual and new or expanded sections include, among others, confidentiality and electronic health records, health system catastrophes, boundaries and privacy, social media and online professionalism. I really appreciate... Read more →

NIMS: Guidance for HPP 2012

The NIMS objectives for hospitals have been reduced from 14 to 11 and there is some new clarification and guidance. The changes, effective July 1, 2012, include: Combining Object s 8 & 10: Promote and ensure that hospital processes, equipment,... Read more →

Telehealth, the Cloud and BI — oh my!

My guest blog post for Health IT Exchange made it onto their list of top 7 community blogs of 2011. Telehealth, the cloud and BI — oh my! includes my post on the importance of connecting health IT with disaster... Read more →

Earthquake Publications for Businesses

Thousands of earthquakes occur in the United States each year; most are too small to significantly affect businesses and communities. However, large and very damaging earthquakes have occurred in the past and could happen again at anytime. In general, many... Read more →

When Agnes' stroke hit, acting FAST saved her life

My work with the Telestroke Initiative has given me an opportunity to learn a great deal about stroke care and to know some of the people at the National Stroke Association. In the process, I've also heard about some stories... Read more →