Public Health Preparedness
Pandemic, avian and bird flu, radiological and biological terrorism—just the mention of these terms elicits fear and concern in the public.
Public health officials at all levels of government want to:
- understand the public's perceptions and knowledge about these alarming public health issues
- communicate accurate information that will inform the public and gain their trust
To be ready to respond during a national health scare of any type, you need an organization that can offer you a comprehensive approach to preparedness.
Turn to Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) for :
- analyzing media coverage to better understand what is being communicated to the public
- conducting focus groups and interviews to learn about the public's perceptions and knowledge
- preparing a comprehensive communications plan that addresses all aspects of a health emergency
- designing, developing, and delivering traditional and technology-based training to educate your staff on the latest health topics and to prepare them to address the public during an emergency or crisis
- developing and facilitating exercises and drills to ready your staff for all communications aspects of a health emergency
ORAU brings an in-depth knowledge and proven experience in the hottest health topics today. We've worked with:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on preparedness activities related to pandemic flu, avian flu, SARS, and other infectious diseases
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Assistance Secretary for Public Affairs, in identifying information, developing a structure, and facilitating the development of an interagency pandemic flu operational crisis communication plan
- The State of Indiana on fact sheets discussing chemical and biological agents that could be used by terrorists
- The State of Kentucky on an emergency communication document that would guide public health officials responses and activities during an emergency
For more information on these projects and products, visit ORAU's Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Web site.
