Lessons Learned from Nashville and Planning for the Inauguration and Understanding the Impacts of Communications Disruptions on Healthcare
On January 15, the ASPR Division of Critical Infrastructure Protection and the Healthcare and Public Health Sector offered a webinar with Healthcare and Public Sector leaders titled
Maintaining Resilient Communications in Healthcare: Lessons Learned from Nashville and Planning for the Inauguration. The webinar briefed on the impacts from the Nashville bombing on the HPH Sector and to shared planning considerations for potential disruptions related Presidential Inauguration and future civil unrest.
Background
On December 25, 2020, a suicide bomber detonated a recreational vehicle (RV) bomb in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States, injuring eight people and damaging dozens of buildings. It took place at 6:30 am, adjacent to an AT&T network hub, resulting in days-long communication service outages. Cellular, wireline telephone, internet and U-verse television service were affected, as were many 911 call centers. These interruptions in service had significant negative impacts on the local hospitals and health systems, disrupting their ability to communicate, resulting in significant challenges to patient care, including the OCVID-19 response.
Following the civil unrest and riot at the U.S. Capitol, open source media reported plans for additional protests across the country for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration, which could have led to more violence and unrest. Civil unrest may last beyond the Inauguration, and has the potential to lead to similar disruptions in communications capabilities, which would lead to disruption of healthcare. This webinar informed healthcare organizations on how to best prepare and manage disruptions caused by civil unrest.
Topics and Speakers
Representatives from healthcare facilities and systems impacted by the Nashville bombing will share their experiences and lessons learned
- Willie Suggs, Director of Emergency Operations HCA Centennial Medical Center & Co-Chair Nashville Regional Healthcare Coalition
- Scott Cormier, Vice President Emergency Management MedExcel & Ascension Health Systems
Representatives from the Communication Sector will share best practices on how to prepare for and mitigate risks from disruptions in communications capabilities
- Robert (Bob) Desiato, Comms-ISAC Vice Chair and Director, AT&T Technology Operations
- Joe Viens, Comms-ISAC Chair, and Senior Director, Government Affairs, Charter Communications
​Unclassified Threat Briefing and Considerations for Healthcare and Public Health
- Aaron Roth, Managing Director, The Chertoff Group
- Brian Hess, Senior Associate, The Chertoff Group
