Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict


Book Description

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption worldwide highlighting once again the interdependency of health and socioeconomic development, and the global lack of health systems resilience. Two years into the pandemic, most countries report sustained disruptions across service delivery platforms and health areas with a profound impact on health outcomes. The impact of these disruptions is magnified within marginalized communities and in countries experiencing protracted conflict. There is an urgent need to focus on recovery through investment in the essential public health functions (EPHFs) and the foundations of health systems with a focus on primary health care, and whole-of-government and -society engagement. The aim of this Research Topic is to gather, transfer and promote operationalization of key experiences from COVID-19 to inform global and country level recovery that better promote health; guide policy direction towards building health systems resilience; and thereby ensure economic and social prosperity. Experience with COVID-19 has demonstrated that traditional approaches to health system strengthening have failed to achieve the complementary goals of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security with the divide between the most vulnerable and well-off only widening. Much of what had been learned from previous experiences such as Ebola in West Africa has not been widely applied. This has left health and economic systems vulnerable to 21 st century public health challenges, ranging from conflict and natural disasters to aging demographics and rising rates of non-communicable and communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance. These challenges require intentional focus and investment as well as whole-of-government and -society engagement with health to build health system resilience. Greater action is needed to prevent the devastating effects of war and conflict on the health of the most vulnerable. This Research Topic will convene the knowledge and practices of leaders in public health, health systems, and humanitarian and development sectors. This is to ensure lessons from COVID-19 inform the recovery agenda and promote sustainable health and socioeconomic recovery for all. Lest we forget and find ourselves again unprepared and vulnerable in the face of an even greater threat.




The Covid-19 Response in New York City


Book Description

The COVID-19 Response in New York City: Crisis Management in the Largest Public Health System provides an historical accounting of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the largest public health system in the United States. The book offers a roadmap to guide healthcare systems and their providers in the event of future pandemics. Readers will learn about surge staffing and level loading, as well as tips from the ED and ICUs on how to respond to an unprecedented influx of inpatients. Written by healthcare providers who were at the epicenter of the pandemic in New York City, this book provides a sound accounting of the response to the pandemic in one of the world's largest cities. Provides historical context of the COVID-19 response by NYC Health + Hospitals Covers how to respond to a mass influx of patients and sustained crisis over a year+ Presents information on standing up genomic sequencing




How Covid Crashed the System


Book Description

Why America’s health care system failed so tragically during the Covid pandemic, and how the forces unleashed by the crisis could be just the medicine for its long-term cure. Covid patients overwhelmed American hospitals. The world’s most advanced and expensive health care system crumbled, short of supplies and personnel. The U.S. lost more patients than any other nation during the pandemic. How could this happen? And how could this disaster lead to a more resilient, rational and equitable health care system in the future? How Covid Crashed the System answers these questions with compelling stories and wide-angle analysis. Dr. David Nash, a founder of the discipline of population health, and Charles Wohlforth, an award-winning science writer, pick up the pieces of the Covid disaster like investigators of a crashed airliner, finding the root causes of America’s failure to cope, and delivering surprising answers that may reorient how you think about your own health. From the broadest, cultural flaws that disabled our health system to particular, institutional issues, America’s defenses fell due to racism and poverty, combined with a culture of misguided individualism that tore communities apart. We suffered from failed leadership and crippled public health agencies, and hospitals built to make money from services, not deliver health. But How Covid Crashed the System goes beyond analyzing those problems, providing hope for change and fundamental improvement in ways that will transform Americans’ health. Covid’s market disruption encouraged new technology that allows for remote health care. Integrated health organizations gained ground, working to manage clients’ total wellness from cradle to grave. Covid also accelerated changes in medical education, to make doctor training more equitable and better aligned to the skills we need. And Covid forced employers to accept responsibility for their workers’ health in a new way, making them partners in this new movement. Using systemic analysis of the Covid crash, the authors find reasons to hope. America’s health care establishment resisted reform for decades, mired in waste and avoidable errors. Now, the pandemic crisis has exposed its flaws for all to see, creating the opportunities for systemic changes. Even without new laws or government policies, America is moving toward a transformed health system responsible for our wellness. How Covid Crashed the System tells that story.




The COVID-19 Response


Book Description

The COVID-19 Response: The Vital Role of the Public Health Professional explores population health during a pandemic and how is it different than clinical medicine. Other sections cover federal, state and local responses to COVID-19, testing for COVID-19, the implementation of public health control measures, the use of public health emergency powers, health equity, the resignation and firing of public health leaders, vaccination planning, and the future of public health post COVID-19. Leaders and practitioners working in public health practice and academia, as well as students in public health undergraduate and graduate level programs will find this book extremely useful. - Clarifies the role of public health in a pandemic emergency - Assesses the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which include excess deaths from dementia, diabetes and heart disease, and will soon include the potential for global epidemics of preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria and polio - Explores the impact of lack of trust in science and public health leadership - Describes a way forward for the public health system to be prepared to respond to future threats




An Unmitigated Disaster


Book Description

Highlighting American cultural and political contexts, this book provides an in-depth assessment of the breadth and magnitude of the United States' errors in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An Unmitigated Disaster chronicles and explains the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency management expert Robert O. Schneider considers the quality of U.S. pandemic planning and preparedness; the quality and effectiveness of national, state, and local response efforts; and the performance of national leaders during this historic public health crisis. The book culminates in an assessment of how a predictable public health threat became an unprecedented health, economic, and security disaster. Schneider convincingly shows that conscious decisions were made by governmental authorities, beginning with the president, to ignore expert information and security intelligence in pursuit of other objectives. In other words, Schneider argues, if the U.S. was ill-prepared for or slow to respond to the crisis, it was because its leaders consciously chose to be ill-prepared or slow to respond. Readers will be fascinated by this behind-the-scenes exposé of a pandemic year.




Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic


Book Description

This book examines how governments around the world responded to the health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before vaccines became available, non-medical interventions were the main means to protect the public. Non-medical interventions were put in place by governments as public health policies. In every nation, politicians and governments faced a choice situation, and worldwide, they made different choices. Public health policies came at a price, in economic, social, and ultimately electoral costs to the political incumbents. The book discusses differences in governments’ policy efforts to mitigate the virus spread. The authors conduct in-depth analysis of country-cases from Africa, North and South America, Asia, and Europe. They also offer small-n- comparative analyses as well as report global patterns and trends of governments’ responsiveness to the medical emergency. It will appeal to all those interested in public policy, health policy and governance.




The COVID-19 Disaster. Volume II: Prevention and Response to Pandemics Using Artificial Intelligence


Book Description

This book describes the work to be done in building an automated pandemic prevention and response capability for the US with international extensions and extendibility using artificial intelligence. The complexity of operational decisions, information sharing, situational awareness, and planned/ongoing actions by thousands of actors in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response is far too great for anyone to manage effectively. The deaths and economic devastation caused by COVID-19 yet again proved this fact, much like all other major disasters we have endured. There are too many organizations, too many differing plans and agendas, too many different people of varying experience in positions of responsibility, and too much information as well as critical need for optimal decisions and actions, to avoid calamity during the inevitable next pandemic. We need automated planning, information vetting/sharing and rapid action to optimize prevention and, if not prevented, response to minimize spread. Volume I laid out the case for a better approach than exists in the U.S. today, and our nation's military - touted as the best in the world - employs methodologies with precision and fidelity that optimize rapid decision making for human-sized enemies. It turns out these same methodologies and associated technologies work just as well with our microscopic enemies, like COVID-19. This book provides an overview of how it should be developed, implemented and evolved nationwide before the next pandemic. Seems like we finally should get our "act" together, otherwise the toll for passage of the next virus could be far higher as we remain unprepared. It will be hard and extensive work, which some have referenced the "Manhattan Project" or the Apollo Program, but the COVID-19 death count mandates we apply our best effort to prevent another pandemic disaster. We are better equipped now than ever to do so.




"Unveiling Pain: The Global Impact of COVID-19"


Book Description

In the pages of "Unveiling Pain: The Global Impact of COVID-19," readers embark on a poignant and enlightening journey through the multifaceted landscape of the pandemic that swept across the globe. This meticulously crafted narrative unfolds as a chronicle of suffering, resilience, and the collective human experience in the face of an unprecedented global crisis. Overview The book opens with a vivid overview of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of its origins, rapid spread, and the profound challenges it posed to individuals, communities, and nations worldwide. From the gripping narratives of frontline workers to the stories of those affected, the narrative paints a vivid and empathetic picture of the global struggle against an invisible adversary. Importance of Understanding Global Impact It explores the importance of comprehending the global impact of the pandemic, delving into its interconnectedness and the shared vulnerabilities that transcended borders. The narrative illuminates how the pain inflicted by the virus reverberated across continents, underscoring the need for a collective response and a united understanding of the challenges faced by humanity. Purpose of the Book: A Multifaceted Exploration At its core, "Unveiling Pain" serves a dual purpose — to shed light on the profound suffering endured by individuals and communities and to unravel the lessons embedded in the pain. The book acts as a tapestry, weaving together stories of loss, resilience, and the unwavering spirit that emerged in the wake of the pandemic. Themes Explored The book meticulously explores various themes, from the high mortality rates and personal anecdotes of loss to the long-term health effects that linger in the aftermath of the virus. It navigates through the economic fallout, educational disruptions, mental health struggles, and the strains on healthcare systems, providing a comprehensive panorama of the global impact. A Call to Action Amidst the narratives of pain, "Unveiling Pain" extends a resounding call to action. It invites readers to understand not only the challenges faced but also the opportunities for growth, resilience, and positive change. The book explores how communities and nations can unite, learn from adversity, and collectively shape a future that is adaptive, inclusive, and fortified against unforeseen challenges. Optimism for the Post-Pandemic Era As the narrative unfolds, a sense of optimism for the post-pandemic era emerges. It envisions a world that, having weathered the storm, stands on the cusp of renewal and positive transformation. The book explores the potential for global solidarity, scientific advancements, and collaborative efforts to build a future characterized by healing, resilience, and hope. "Unveiling Pain: The Global Impact of COVID-19" is not merely a historical account; it is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the importance of shared understanding, and the capacity for positive change in the face of immense challenges. As readers turn the pages, they are invited to witness the unveiling of a global narrative — one that, despite the pain, resonates with the enduring spirit of humanity.




Communicating Effectively During a Health Crisis


Book Description

Exploring how and why communication breakdowns occur during pandemics and world disasters, this book offers solutions for improving communication and managing future public health crises. A compilation of evidence-based lessons learned, this book shows how to effectively convey critical lifesaving information during a pandemic. It assesses how trust in leaders and governments during a public health crisis is formed and the impact this has on how information is perceived by the public. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, the book demonstrates how informative policy decisions and health risk messages can be better communicated for the handling of future pandemics. At a macro-level, the book looks at issues concerning situational awareness, how different countries managed or mismanaged the pandemic, and the lessons readers can learn from those occurrences. At a micro-level, it examines individual differences in public health message perceptions and corresponding actions taken or not taken. An interdisciplinary critique of the delivery and reception of messages during global disasters, this text is suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses in Communication Studies, Health Communication, Risk Communication and Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, and Disaster Management.