The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit of the United States

[Laidback Al]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit of the United States

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Posted by
Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Posts (5)
View Bio

Closing Thoughts

As we close the HHS Pandemic Flu blog, I want thank all of you for participating. The passion of respondents was a happy surprise to me. I have come to understand there is an army of well trained and motivated people who understand this issue and the need for a sustained concentrated effort.
This is the first time I have participated in a blog like this one. It has created an appetite for more. Citizens want to hear from their government leaders and there is value in government leaders hearing from citizens.
Educating Americans about the need for individual and family pandemic preparedness is a major part of our mission at HHS. We wanted to bring leaders from health care, business/labor, community and faith-based organizations together but knew a one day meeting wouldn?t be enough so we created a blog to extend the conversation and engage more voices.
Every one of us has a role to play?educating others, thinking about those with fewer resources who may face obstacles to preparedness.
We will provide community leaders with information and resources on pandemic planning to share with others. Also, we will be identifying around ten communities across the country for increased communications and technical support. The purpose is to identify best practices that can be replicated in other communities across the United States.
Thanks again to all the participants and unique perspectives, the commenters for their engagement and the many thousands of visitors from around the world.
Posted July 2, 2007 at 3:58 pm in Message from the Secretary

http://blog.pandemicflu.gov/?p=111

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[sharon sanders]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit of the United States



Posted by
Sister Patricia Talone
RSM, PhD; Vice President, Mission Services, Catholic Health Association. I have worked in Catholic health care for over twenty years as an ethicist and mission administrator.





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, we don’t need more command and control; we need better means to engage everyone’s intelligence in solving challenges and crises as they arise.”


Secondly, it has struck me that Secretary Leavitt, and the department of HHS has taken a risk in the very process of inviting commentary, feedback, criticism and participation regarding the topic of pandemic flu. One of the limitations of traditional media is that it is so passive. One can sit back on one’s couch and read or watch or listen and absorb what another person thinks or wants you to think. A blog demands that one consider one’s own convictions, opinions, etc. At its best, it can stimulate critical thinking.

Thirdly, the Summit drew together leaders, leaders from various professions, backgrounds and walks of life. It was not necessarily an assembly of like-minded individuals prepared to do group-speak. The lectures and discussions evoked learning, reflection and mutual challenges, as well as provided a forum for necessary networking. Martin Luther King, Jr. asserted, “we must learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or perish together as fools.”


Such a summit is an excellent vehicle to stimulate dialogue and generate commitment from community leaders. It is a start in the long and challenging process of promoting public awareness of and commitment to the health of individuals and our society.


There are and will be concrete results flowing from last week’s meeting. Among these are:



1. Dissemination of materials and resources (from HHS, CDC and other relevant sources). Many of these have and will continue to be shared on this blog as well as on Flu Wiki and other blogs.



2. Determination to develop, review and/or evaluate policies and procedures for hospitals, clinics, schools, businesses - any organizations that bear responsibility for the good of society.



3. Stronger bonding between and among these organizations. The enormity of the challenge forces one to realize that no individual or organization can handle this possibility alone. Author Flannery O’Connor maintained that “the truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Recognizing that we are sisters and brothers to one another, we must extend our hands and strengthen the bonds that tie us together.


I applaud Secretary Leavitt and Admiral Agwunobi for taking the risk to educate the public through this blog, and to challenge a variety of leaders to carry forth their message of preparedness. Although I realize that my sphere of influence may seem small, I now have a clearer insight into the ways that I can galvinize Catholic health care (and other Catholic ministries) for the challenge of a pandemic. Leaders throughout Catholic health care are expressing great interest in this topic and many are developing plans to respond to a pandemic within their facilities and communities.

http://blog.pandemicflu.gov/?p=106

[sharon sanders]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit of the United States

Sister Patricia Talone Says:

It is heartening to know that some leading pharmaceutical companies are donating pre-vaccines to the World Health Organization.

I must admit that I have had a nagging worry that companies might use a flu pandemic to maximize an opportunity for business advancement.

This may sound cynical, but we have certainly seen this with companies lining their coffers because of contracts to “rebuild” Iraq.

Some might call such actions pragmatic, but I believe they are deplorable. They contribute to the notion of the “Ugly American” who values financial gain over transparency, and the well-being of an international community.

I would hope that HHS can use its influence to encourage other pharmaceutical companies to do likewise.

Posted June 16th, 2007 at 9:51 pm http://blog.pandemicflu.gov/?p=100#comment-3398

The bolding is mine - Fla1

[gsgs]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit of the United States

InKy, just attach a forum to the pandemicflu.gov webpage.

A forum is a blog, which works even without bloggers and continues
when the blog ends.

Are they ready for free discussion or do they need to direct
it with previleged starting messages as in a blog ?

[sharon sanders]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

Good news about this online summit. One request: as this is an international forum and there are many nationalities contributing, could you please add the epiteth "of the United States" to the announcement titles so that it is clear what country we are talking about? I think this would also contribute greatly to a sense of colleagiality among us all. Look forward to it.

Cozodapo - thank you for the suggestion. I have renamed the thread and the future posts will carry United States in the title also.

[cozodapo]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

Good news about this online summit. One request: as this is an international forum and there are many nationalities contributing, could you please add the epiteth "of the United States" to the announcement titles so that it is clear what country we are talking about? I think this would also contribute greatly to a sense of colleagiality among us all. Look forward to it.

[gsgs]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

why don't they create their own flublogia ?

[sharon sanders]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

OK. But, please remember that the internet is a meritocracy where the best ideas rise to the top. In my opinion, there is a danger that agreeing on a message, and a course of action could also homogenize the forums and result in a loss of their piquant flavor and unique ambiance of ideas.

I agree. We will keep our identity, methodologies, and mission intact. Also, we are the only Section 501(c)(3), I believe, among the "bird flu" sites.

[Snicklefritz]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

OK. But, please remember that the internet is a meritocracy where the best ideas rise to the top. In my opinion, there is a danger that agreeing on a message, and a course of action could also homogenize the forums and result in a loss of their piquant flavor and unique ambiance of ideas.

[Thornton]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

A united nations of flublogs maybe. Each has its distinctive identity and history, all have a core set of common values and mission. Collaborative action group.

[gsgs]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

reopen the fluwiki-subforum, allow threads running on both boards,

heck, copy the whole fluwiki forum to a subforum here
and include it in the FT- search-function.
(searching is bad at FW)

Give up on censorship/banning.

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

Jonesie, a very interesting read. It calls for philanthropic organizations to provide funding for a host of things, public service announcements being only one. The National Pandemic Preparedness Council sees a real need for informing the public sector, especially the disenfranchised, of the looming threat of pandemic flu. It doesn't offer any funding itself only asks others to come forward and do so. Still, it is a jumping off point.

[Jonesie]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

I think public service announcements are a great way to get messages out in front of the public. .. Who is going to pay for the studio, cameraman, and the film or tapes that need to be distributed to radio and tv stations? .... We do need public announcements. I'd like to challenge those in authority to do just that.

This is a good place to start to look for funding:

The Council on Foundations

Philanthropy's Response to the Avian Flu Pandemic Threat

In early 2006, the Council convened a strategic planning symposium, "Avian Flu and Philanthropy's Response," to discuss the philanthropic sector's leadership role in preparing our communities for the possibility of an avian flu pandemic.

Grantmakers In Health and top medical experts outlined the threat of this illness. There is a huge gap in our public health preparedness for this - or other - widespread infectious diseases. The grantmakers who gathered for the symposium identified a number of activities in which the foundation community can play a valuable leadership role in concert with public officials and community organizations.

Executive Summary [pdf]
Discussion/Action Guide [pdf]
Attendance List [pdf]
Resource List [pdf]
Sample agenda for a regional or local meeting [pdf]
For more information about this initiative, contact the Emerging Issues Staff.

http://www.cof.org/Action/content.cf...temNumber=4674

FluTrackers.com is a non-profit, non-partisan educational public charity exempt from taxation under the Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If someone from Flutrackers contacts them, they may be able to advise the charity on what to do next.

[sharon sanders]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

Wrapping Up


Closing out a remarkable day of what some will count as revealing (for others, reinforcing) insights, Dr. John O. Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health of HHS, offers his sincere gratitude to all those who joined us for this event.
?I want to take a few moments to bring this to some sort of natural closure, but also want youto know it does not end today. I am a pediatrician, but I am also a student. I have learned a lot just like you, traveling with the Secretary to 50 states and local communities, on the [Pandemic Flu Leadership Blog]. . . and I learn something new every day about pandemic preparedness.
. . .
We brought you here today because of the obvious truth ? sometimes, government doesn?t have all the answers. It really doesn?t matter what the plan says or who articulates what the plan is if we haven?t spent a lot of time figuring out who we?re speaking to.
We have many communities with different needs and perspectives. You all, like me, watched Katrina unfold, and it shot so many of us into awareness. There are many lessons we are still learning ? it?s not over for many who still live [in New Orleans].
[Preparedness] is not the same for everyone. You have to tailor your message to the audience.
We?re going to take what we?ve watched and seen and heard today back and integrate it into our planning. And we?ll be reaching out to you again about reaching out to specific populations, about communicating the message. . .
I challenge you to take doday?s discussion and engage others in similar dialogue. I hope you picked up on unique perpectives that you didn?t quite know before you came here today, and take those back to the communities you lead, and help this dialogue spread ? not just at this level of government ? but at every level of government and communities.
We recognize that it doesn?t matter what we say if no one is listening. The true test will be, when the bell rings, how many peope have prepared ahead of time. It will be too late if, when the bell rings, we stand up and try to lead a nation that is unprepared.?
As a noteworthy end to the Pandemic Flu Leadership Forum, Dr. Agwunobi invited others to make closing remarks. (?My handlers are shaking their heads and telling me not to do this ? but I?m gonna do it!?) He encouraged Dr. Greg Dworkin of Flu Wiki to share his thoughts. The two have recently become acquainted as contributors on the HHS blog.
? our blog community will appreciate this -
Dr. Dworkin: One of the things we?ve learned today, over the past three weeks, and will continue to learn, is that there are a lot of potential recruits for this effort. . . A lot of people who are already engaged and feel strongly about this want to help.?
Dr. Agwunobi: I didn?t realize until I became an avid reader of the HHS blog that there is an army of people who are already preparing and want to help further this goal of preparedness. (I also learned you have to be completely open and honest and forthcoming in that world or they won?t treat you very nicely!)
Posted June 13, 2007 at 4:50 pm in Leadership Forum

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: The National Pandemic Preparedness Blog Summit

I think public service announcements are a great way to get messages out in front of the public. However, they can't take place in a vacuum and they need funding. Who is going to pay for the studio, cameraman, and the film or tapes that need to be distributed to radio and tv stations? And even more critical is who would air such a PSA? We have established there is no perceived threat. Without a voice loud enough to be heard and listened to as an authority we wouldn't be given any air time. We need a leader, someone who is viewed as an expert in conjunction with the backing of the government to step forward. We do need public announcements. I'd like to challenge those in authority to do just that.