CT HCC October 2026 Newsletter

CT HCC 2026-2027 Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Report

Strengthening Healthcare Security & Cyber Resilience

October provides an important opportunity to focus on the many ways we protect healthcare both physically and digitally. The month is recognized nationally as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, while Healthcare Security and Safety Week is observed October 11–17, 2026. Together, these observances highlight an important preparedness message: protecting healthcare requires a coordinated approach to the safety and security of our people, facilities, information, technology, and essential services.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity is more than an IT issue it is an operational readiness, continuity, and patient safety issue. Healthcare organizations rely on interconnected technology for electronic health records, communications, pharmacy and laboratory services, medical devices, patient tracking, scheduling, supply chain operations, and many other essential functions. A cyber incident can quickly become an organization-wide emergency, particularly when systems are unavailable for an extended period. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an opportunity to engage leadership, emergency preparedness, clinical, IT, cybersecurity, communications, and continuity staff in conversations about both preventing cyber incidents and maintaining healthcare delivery when technology is disrupted.

Consider asking:

What critical systems would have the greatest impact on patient care if they were unavailable?
Can essential services continue during a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour technology outage?
Do staff know how to transition to and operate under downtime procedures?
Are redundant communication methods available and regularly tested?
When was the last time your organization exercised an extended cyber or technology outage?
Are cybersecurity and extended downtime incorporated into continuity and emergency operations planning?

Healthcare Security and Safety Week

Healthcare Security and Safety Week, October 11–17, 2026, recognizes healthcare security and safety professionals and the critical role they play in protecting healthcare facilities, personnel, patients, and visitors. The 2026 theme is “Securing the Mission of Quality Care.”

Healthcare security extends well beyond traditional facility security. Preparedness for workplace violence, active threats, access control, infrastructure disruptions, emergency communications, cyber incidents, and other hazards requires coordination among security, emergency management, clinical leadership, facilities, IT, public safety, and community partners. This week is also an opportunity to recognize the healthcare security professionals who work every day to maintain a safe environment in which healthcare can be delivered.

Security Is Part of Healthcare Resilience. Whether the threat begins at a computer, a facility entrance, or somewhere in the community, healthcare organizations must be prepared to maintain essential services, communicate effectively, protect patients and staff, and adapt when normal systems are disrupted.

This October, the Connecticut Health Care Coalition encourages members to use these observances as an opportunity to bring security and cybersecurity into preparedness conversations. Review a plan, test a backup communication method, walk through a downtime procedure, discuss an active threat scenario, or simply connect with your organization's security and cybersecurity partners.

One conversation or one small preparedness activity can identify a vulnerability before it becomes a problem during an actual incident.

Cyber Resources for Members

Welcome to Our New Coalition Members!

The Connecticut Health Care Coalition continues to grow, and we are excited to welcome the organizations that joined us during the first quarter of the fiscal year, July 1 through September 30, 2026.

Our Coalition is strengthened by the diverse organizations and partners who bring their experience, perspectives, and capabilities to our shared preparedness efforts. We look forward to working with our newest members through Coalition meetings, workgroups, trainings, exercises, planning initiatives, and other opportunities to connect and collaborate.

Please join us in welcoming our newest CT HCC member organizations!

Aspetuck Health District
Chesprocott Health District
Saint Francis Hospital
Southwest Community Health Center, Inc.
Stratford EMS
Tolland-Windham County Mutual Aid Ambulance Association, Inc
UConn Health Waterbury Hospital
Yale New Haven Health - Greenwich Hospital
Yale New Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital

Non-Critical Information Sharing

CT HCC Strategic Plan in Action: Building Preparedness Through Training & Exercises

Strategic Priority 3: Offer and Support Multi-Disciplinary Coalition Emergency Preparedness Activities

The Connecticut Health Care Coalition continues to advance Strategic Priority 3 by creating and promoting opportunities that strengthen preparedness across our diverse health care and response community. This priority focuses on connecting partners with meaningful training and exercise opportunities and sharing those opportunities through email, the CT HCC website, coalition meetings, and other communication methods.

Planning is already underway for several major 2027 activities, including the 2027 CT HCC Annual Conference and a Functional Medical Surge Exercise that will provide partners an opportunity to practice coordination, communication, resource management, and medical surge response across disciplines.

In addition, the Coalition is working with the Executive Committee to identify other training and education priorities that reflect the needs of our members and emerging preparedness challenges. To further support workforce development, CT HCC is partnering with Hartford HealthCare to make Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for at least two Coalition educational offerings. Hartford HealthCare will serve as the CEU provider and award continuing education credits.

These activities are about more than checking a box, they are opportunities to learn together, practice together, and strengthen the relationships and capabilities we will rely on during a real emergency.

Save the Date: CT HCC October Bimonthly Meeting

Please save the date for our next CT HCC Bimonthly meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, October 14, from 11:30-1:30 PM virtually via Zoom. Calendar invites have been sent out to all coalition members. To be added to the calendar invite, please email coordinator@cthcc.org.

Save the Date: CT HCC Functional Medical Surge Exercise

Join a CT HCC Workgroup

If you are interested in participating in coalition planning efforts and/or learning more about health care coalition preparedness, consider joining one of the following workgroups:

Exercise Planning Workgroup: Designs, plans, and evaluates exercises; promotes exercise participation and improvement; strengthens capabilities through real-world scenarios.
Information Sharing Workgroup: Enhances information sharing and situational awareness; identifies and addresses communication gaps; supports technology solutions and interoperability.
Planning Workgroup: Leads development and maintenance of coalition plans and annexes; promotes planning initiatives by ensuring plan cohesion; identifies subject matter experts for hazard specific planning.
Training & Education Workgroup: Identifies training needs across the coalition; coordinates and promotes training opportunities and resources; supports continuing education and workforce development.

If you are interested in being a part of any of these workgroups, please email our team at coordinator@cthcc.org to be added to upcoming calendar invites.