Preparing for Tech Downtime in Healthcare: Key Strategies and Insights with Darlene Vendittelli

In this episode of 'For The Love of Revenue Cycle,' host Vanessa Muldoon and guest Darlene Vendittelli, Director of Digital Revenue Management at South Coast Health, discuss crucial strategies to prepare for technology downtime in healthcare settings. The conversation covers the inevitability of system outages and emphasizes the importance of having a well-crafted downtime plan. Darlene shares five key steps, including inventorying systems, creating paper processes, developing a recovery plan, and establishing a strong communication strategy. They also talk about the necessity of rehearsals and regular reviews to ensure readiness. With practical tips and real-world examples, this episode provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals to maintain operational continuity during tech downtimes.

Additional Episode Resources:

The SAFER Guides (Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience) — government-published checklists and self-assessment tools for contingency planning and downtime preparedness: https://www.healthit.gov/topic/safety/safer-guides

A one-page tip sheet Darlene created summarizing her five-step downtime framework: Please email podcast@ftlorc.com to receive your free copy.

00:00 Introduction and Host Background

00:33 Episode Overview and Guest Introduction

02:38 Importance of Downtime Preparation

06:10 Steps to Build a Downtime Strategy

16:34 Communication and Recovery Plans

26:56 Practical Tips and Resources

30:20 Conclusion and Call to Action