Welcome
A way to engage everyone…At the end of the HHS Summit last week in DC, a reporter asked, “besides feeling good that this group gathered, what results will we see from this meeting? “ Actually, I think there will be some concrete results (and I will speculate about them later), but I have been pondering this query on several levels. The implication seemed to be that gathering a group of high-level leaders to talk about the possibility of a flu pandemic was simply talk. In our test-taking, measurement-oriented American society, conversation or significant discourse is viewed by many to be a waste of time without outcomes. I know that I come from a different era than many of the people attending the summit, but I believe that engaging in focused discussion with other persons can significantly change hearts and minds. Margaret Wheatley, writer and organizational consultant, has said that “in these troubled, uncertain times,...
|
Add to Technorati
Add to del.icio.us
Making it HappenMaking it happen. Now, there’s a concept we can agree on. So, let me give a hat tip to the two previous posts from Mike Coston (Breaking The Barriers) and Admiral John Agwunobi (Ideas Are Welcome). Mike talks about the need to tackle the pandemic severity threat head on, while Dr. Agwunobi shows a notable willingness to listen and learn (and for the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that’s official HHS policy). Combining those things would, indeed, be a “best practice” way to make it happen. There are HHS tool kits in development, a focus of the DC summit. We’ve not seen them, and the plan is for deliverables this summer and roll-out in fall (see Stephanie Marshall’s presentation): Overall HHS Communications Objectives:
|
Breaking The BarriersWith the 5 week Pandemic Leadership Blog drawing to a close, I think it’s important to put the past month in perspective. This blog has been a unique foray into a new form of communication between citizens and their government. One that I hope will not be the last of its kind. While the HHS hasn’t responded to many of the questions posed, I do believe they are listening. Admiral Agwunobi’s latest post indicates that he understands our concerns, and was refreshingly candid regarding the possible pandemic scenarios we might face. It isn’t often a government agency steps out of its comfort zone, and despite some of the criticisms levied towards this project, the mere fact that it was attempted speaks volumes about the willingness of the HHS to try new things. Hopefully, the leadership summit in Washington will lead to greater community awareness and citizen participation and will aid in...
|
Ideas are WelcomeLast week I met Dr. Greg Dworkin - in the flesh - at the HHS Pandemic Leadership Forum. It was nice to put a face to the man whose postings I have read on this blog. His comments at the forum highlighted his unique insight into the importance of the flu blogging community. As founder of FluWiki, Greg is clearly a respected “elder” in the pandemic influenza blogging community. He has helped me understand the power and unique importance of the flu blogging community and its collective voice. I have learned a lot from the comments I have read on the blog and my conversation with Greg last week. In my first posting, it was not my intention to dissuade advanced preparation or to down play the gravity of pandemics. Advanced preparedness is critical and individual preparedness and a culture of self sufficiency are essential. No one can afford to wait until after an emergency begins in order to prepare. No one can predict with certainty what the next...
|
Prepping For Your Pets, And Other Flu StoriesOne great thing about the internet is the variety of angles one can take to look at the same issue. Here at the Pandemic Flu Leadership Summit, we tackled some substantial issues such as the wisdom of communicating H5N1 preparation vs. an any-pandemic prep vs. an all-hazards prep. Each approach has merit. We all recognize that were it not for H5N1 and its virulence and threat, this HHS summit and blog would not exist. We also recognize that H5N1 is not guaranteed to be the next pandemic virus (it could be an H7 or an H9 or a more common H2). We further recognize that even for those who agree to apply the precautionary principle (action to reduce risk should not await scientific certainty), an all hazards approach may be necessary and prudent for the widest buy-in that does not dilute the result (and that last bit is key, since the goal is to get folks to adequately prepare and not to come up with a plan that is insufficient...
|
