CHALLENGES

Challenges and problems healthcare organizations face today to mitigate this severe flu encompass areas of data, communication, leadership, and resources. Understanding challenges helps create an appropriate plan during the public health crisis.

INADEQUATE DATA & TOOLS FOR ANALYSIS

Lack of data collection, coordination, and management

Lack of infrastructure to collect real-time data for forecasting and contact tracing
Lack of data coordination leading to redundancy and incompatibility
Lack of data management staff/personnel

LEADERSHIP CRISIS

Lack of political leadership and effective partnerships

Political wars: federal vs. state, Republican vs. Democrat
Need stronger organizational leadership to identify creative and innovative solutions to existing problems
Lack of effective partnerships and collaborations among stakeholders

COMMUNICATION ISSUES

Lack of communication strategies, trust building, and health education

Lack of unified and consistent message; lack of communication strategies
Distrust in government and healthcare
Lack of health education, appreciation of seriousness by the public (e.g., awareness on health disparities in minority groups)

RESOURCE ISSUES

Lack of management of human and material resources

Lack of resources (ICU beds, healthcare workers, vaccines, treatments)
Poor planning of supply and distribution of resources
Regulatory hurdles
Low preparedness of mass production
Lack of policy coordination

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