Description

Objectives

At the end of this course, you should be able to:
• Become familiar with definitions surrounding, and potential consequences of a pandemic
• Outline the starting point(s) for your organization
• Assess organizational risks associated with pandemics
• Properly identify critical organizational functions that may be affected
• Verify related current procedures and responsibilities within your organization
• Build plan elements and strategies that are pandemic-specific
• Exercise and maintain pandemic-specific plans

Outline

Lesson 1: Get organized
• Ensure you have leadership support
• Determine the tools you will use to track the project and communicate progress
• Identify the appropriate functions and individuals for representation on the project team that will drive this planning process through to completion
• Ensure that you establish a pandemic-specific organization to support the pandemic plan
• Establish a preliminary framework regarding how the plan will be approached and how the finished product will be organized

Lesson 2: Assess the risk and confirm critical functions
• Evaluate organization-wide risk
• Review your organization’s risk assessment for additional considerations from the perspective of a pandemic
• Identify the critical activities that comprise key components of your organization before any significant planning can begin
• Review your organization’s business impact analysis (BIA) to ensure that it captures in-depth requirements regarding key staff and associated resources
• Identify and analyze the similarities and differences between your existing business continuity plan. Explore the potential strengths of the existing plan when moving toward adapting for a pandemic scenario
• Utilize current plans, practices, and procedures within your organization when adapting your business continuity plan to fit a pandemic scenario
• Examine the state of your organization's departmental procedures to test for appropriateness and criticality

Lesson 3: Develop pandemic-specific plan elements
• Develop organization-wide initiatives specific to a pandemic preparedness plan
• Revise existing business continuity plan-related documentation to reflect pandemic-related requirements

Lesson 4: Develop pandemic-related plan strategies
• Review strategic options and consider which ones might be viable for your organization
• Assign responsibilities to appropriate areas for further research and investigation
• Recommend the most viable options to leadership. Obtain approval and funding

Lesson 5: Put it all together
• Create a robust pandemic preparedness plan that clearly communicates:
- Information regarding pandemic considerations
- Corporate direction to include policies, procedures and guidelines
- Specific actions to be implemented to ensure that critical business functions are maintained
- Resources to support critical functions
- Contact information

Lesson 6: Exercise/test and maintain plan
• Review options for pandemic scenario-based exercises/tests
• Understand the elements required to conduct an exercise/test
• Review requirements for a maintenance program to ensure all elements of the pandemic preparedness plan are updated as appropriate

-------

For in-person courses:
This course will be held in-person and the exam will be held on the morning of the final day. As soon as you are finished taking the exam, you will be able to leave for the day. A computer is required for this course in order for you to take the exam. The system requirements will be sent to you via email together with information about how to access the course materials prior to the start of the course.

For courses held online:
All online courses are held via Zoom and a computer is required for this course. The system requirements will be sent to you via email together with information about how to access the course materials prior to the start of the course. You will also be provided with instructions for how to take the exam online following the course.

For international courses:
This course is being hosted by a DRI International partner. To register, you will be asked to provide your contact information and we will put you in touch with the local team for details.

For courses held pre-conference:
This course is being held in-person prior to the DRI Annual Conference at or near the conference venue. You can then attend the conference immediately following your course with an additional registration (separate fee applies).