Power cuts

Re: Power cuts

Rob Loxley — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 15:30:38 GMT

Server UPS with timely shutdown. Reception computer and printer on UPS; immediately print out 'day-sheet' for appts etc. Blank clinical notes sheets to make temporary records to write and bill up later.
Maintained ('emergency') lighting in all rooms; torch.
Phone exchange on UPS and details written for how to get BT to forward to a mobile if prolonged outage, or phoneline that works even when the PABX fails.
Local vets on friendly terms who could see any emergencies.
Phone numbers for electricity company.
All of the above written and laminated and to hand (ditto water supply problem backup plan, server failure backup plan.

Not sure I'd be investing in a backup gennie since the average business UK power outage is 70 minutes per year.

Re: Power cuts

Bob Russell — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 10:42:02 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

I have a Jetboil in the car. Can make coffee, therefore can cope with anything.

[/quote]

We have a Costa that obviously runs on another circuit so coffee is never a problem!

I understand PSS require something a little more advanced than torches and was considering whether a UPS could be wired into the operating light circuit to give a few minutes 'closing up' time.

The computer is the biggest problem as only the server has a UPS and it does not have a monitor. Ezvetpro don't like the idea that we play with the server!

Re: Power cuts

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 21:39:58 GMT

I have a Jetboil in the car. Can make coffee, therefore can cope with anything.

Re: Power cuts

Nicola Lawlor — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 21:03:29 GMT

We keep a power/computer failure package that we break out in such events. We have clinical record sheets with owner and pet details at the top, a place for hx and observations etc and at the bottom a section for what is to be billed when computers become available again, and a tick box to use when this is actually done! We also have a set of "blank" consent forms for surgery and euthanasia cases we can fill in the appropriate owner and animal details to by hand and we have a set of printed labels for drugs that we can add the relevant drug and owner/pet info to so we can still dispense meds properly. Light wise we have basic emergency lighting in the building and a couple of decent torches too. Not much we can't cope with in a power cut really. We work out the appointments as they turn up and accept we may be double booking. We usually have a fair idea how busy we were anyway so it all works out in the end.

Re: Power cuts

karen jones — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:36:58 GMT

The previous senior partner wanted us to be the first hospital practice in Shropshire and so needed emergency lighting etc so we have a generator in the garage that switches in automatically when there is a power cut which would probably power half of Oswestry. It has been used 4 times since 1990.

Re: Power cuts

Bob Russell — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:05:21 GMT

Our computers went off immediately so we could not cancel (or know who was booked in!). An uninterruptible power supply for one of the computers and the network 'box-thingy' to keep one running for a few minutes! The server already has one of these.

Still thinking about the rest!

Re: Power cuts

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 17:05:10 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]What steps do practices take for that dreaded moment when the power goes off?[/quote] Candles, flashlights and headtorches or an early evening! i had looked into the possibility of buying a back up generator but decided that for something to power the whole practice it was impractical and not that simple to connect up