Continuity planning for workplace infectious diseases
Abstract
Traditionally, business continuity plans prepare for worst-case scenarios; people plan for the exception rather than the common. Plans focus on infrastructure damage and recovery wrought by such disasters as hurricanes, terrorist events or tornadoes. Yet, another very real threat looms present every day, every season and can strike without warning, wreaking havoc on the major asset — human capital. Each year, millions of dollars are lost in productivity, healthcare costs, absenteeism and services due to infectious, communicable diseases. Sound preventive risk management and recovery strategies can avert this annual decimation of staff and ensure continuous business operation. This paper will present a strong economic justification for the recognition, prevention and mitigation of communicable diseases as a routine part of continuity planning for every business. Recommendations will also be provided for environmental/engineering controls as well as personnel policies that address employee and customer protection, supply chain contacts and potential legal issues.
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Author's Biography
Nancy Welch is Director of the Chesapeake Health Department and Interim Director of Western Tidewater Health District. She has a BS from Lynchburg College, a degree in medicine from Duke University and an MBA from Old Dominion University, and completed her paediatric residency and master’s of health administration at the University of Colorado. She has also received an honorary doctorate in science from Lynchburg College (2014), the Hampton Roads YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Medicine (2012) and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Marian P. Whitehurst Women in Leadership Award (2013).
Pamela Blair Miller is a registered nurse who serves as the Health Emergency Coordinator and Medical Reserve Corps Program Director for the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Chesapeake Health District. She has 15 years of public health experience, ranging from communicable disease outbreak investigations and staff development to emergency preparedness, programme/exercise development and evaluation, as well as response coordination. Pam earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Old Dominion University.
Lisa Engle is the epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of Health’s Chesapeake Health District. She has over 15 years of experience with communicable disease, both as an epidemiologist and as an infection control preventionist with Sentara Hospital in Virginia Beach. Lisa received her bachelor of science from Columbia Union College and her master’s of public health from Eastern Virginia Medical SchooI.
Citation
Welch, Nancy, Miller, Pamela Blair and Engle, Lisa (2016, June 1). Continuity planning for workplace infectious diseases. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 9, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/WPLD4358.
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