Unpreparedness for computer downtime

[Emergent, RN]

Sometimes our computer charting system crashes, is down for updates, the usual frustrations.

For some unknown reason, we have no systematic protocol in place for these times. We have grossly outdated packets of charting that appears to be a hodgepodge of pre-computer charting from various pre-computer eras. We scramble to figure out where the forms are. Everyone is totally confused. It's always chaos.

This is something that is predictable. This will happen occasionally, unfortunately. What do your facilities do?

Computers remind me of sewing machines. They are great when they are working right, but you want to tear your hair out when things go wrong!

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

When we first got our EMR we sometimes had hours of downtime and we had a protocol of paper charting that was very specific.

Our IT people must be magic now (multiple servers?) because we literally never have to use it anymore. The minute things get weird, the IT are on it and it gets fixed before it really goes down.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I HATE computer down time...Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

The facilites that I have worked that handled it the best kept all their old paper work and used it for downtime. It's the re-entry that stinks.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Downtime procedures should have been developed before the EHR went live. We had downtime once, and the process went very smoothly because all departments knew what to do. The only issue was with some nurses and interns who had to be quickly taught to use paper because they had never used paper before.

[Katie71275]

I'm not sure how often we have downtime, but on me, it happens about every 3months or so. It's a pain in the butt, and we go to paper charting then reenter into the computer.

[teacher141414]

Our facility uses tablets when we have scheduled downtime on charting.