Senate Resolution 59 Outreach/Educational Webinars

Senate Resolution 59 sponsored by Senator Bernard requested that the Office of Public Health study and submit a report relative to health care infrastructure needs in Louisiana.  A formal letter is attached from the Assistant Secretary of OPH, Kim Hood. 

  • Background: This resolution was passed in the 2021 Legislative Session. The resolution was facilitated by the unprecedented challenges of a COVID19 pandemic coupled with multiple hurricanes and severe weather events in quick succession. 
  • Outreach/Educational Webinars: A series of “Lunch and Learn” webinars related to critical infrastructure capability and capacity have been organized.  Medical Facilities rely on critical infrastructure of power, water, digital, and cyber networks. The Lunch and Learn Zoom Link Webinars are found below.  
  • The lunch and learn webinars will be recorded and posted on the LDH website. The webinars are open to any/all health care organizations.  The webinars are intended to provide: 1) educational outreach on the framework, capabilities, and capacity of critical utility systems; 2) allow the healthcare industry to ascertain a vulnerability assessment of their utility infrastructure and its potential impacts to their facility when a failure/disaster occurs; 2) provide an opportunity for the healthcare industry to engage with information that would inform decisions and proposals related to possible future Biden funding for strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

REQUEST:  Please distribute to the facilities in your parishes/region.  We will use the lunch/learn series to guide and shape the final report. 

“Lunch and Learn” Webinar Schedule

Topic

Presenter(s)

Objectives

Target Audience

Time and Zoom Link

Communications

Travis Johnson

COVID19 pandemic created a climate that advanced telemedicine opportunities. The presenter will provide an overview of the state’s communications infrastructure of T1 lines, threats, response capabilities.  The presenter will also provide “workarounds” when there is a general failure of routine electronic communications platforms.

Healthcare facilities are encouraged to invite their Network manager or their facility’s vendor that handles EMR platform(s).

12:00 pm

Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021

   

Cyber

Dustin Glover, Devon King, Stephen Durnell, Matthew McKey

The presenters will:
Provide a state-level overview of cyber infrastructure, threats, capabilities, and capacity. 
Identify recent events that have affected hospitals/healthcare. 
Identify vulnerabilities, consequences of a cyber-attack. 
Identify how to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Identify how to respond to a cyber-attack and what to report to the state.  
Identify resources and CISA assessments that facilities can utilize.

Healthcare facilities are encouraged to invite their Network manager or their facility’s vendor that handles EMR platform(s).

12:00 pm

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021

Water Systems

Amanda Ames, Chief Engineer

The presenter will provide a state-level overview of the public drinking water systems. Additional objectives include: identify emergency back-up supply resources and commensurate regulations.  Identify how to order auxiliary water in tankers.  Identify elements for an Emergency Plan for Water. Finally, the presenter will recap current efforts underway by ACT98’s consolidation program.

Health care facilities are encouraged to invite their Facility Engineer(s).

12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021

Power

 Jessica Kayuha, Entergy and SWEPCO representatives To provide a state-level overview of power grid, identify infrastructure threats, capabilities, and capacity.  The presenters will provide fortification steps that a healthcare facility can take.  Health care facilities are encouraged to invite their Facility Engineer(s). 

12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021