With the last major pandemic more than 100 years in the rearview mirror, it’s not surprising that the worldwide response to COVID-19 was not easy or especially effective. Preparing for an event that no living person had experienced was a tall order. But what we have learned can help us prepare for the next pandemic and other public health emergencies.
According to the surgeon general, the checklist for maximum preparedness includes: fully funded, staffed and equipped public health departments; manufacturing capacity that can be scaled up quickly; trusted relationships between frontline providers and public health administration, and a crackdown on medical misinformation.
Preparedness was a healthcare industry trend in our 2022 March Healthcare Classic. Explore this year’s interactive bracket to see the most impactful healthcare trends face off.