359: Vermont’s Pandemic Communications, Gun Violence Grant

ROBERT JOHNSON:

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, February 16, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

MARK LEVINE:

In the very beginning of the pandemic, the pace of events was so rapid.

JOHNSON:

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine reflecting on his department's handling of public messaging during the pandemic.

LEVINE:

From the starting gate, the governor and I were both in unison with the themes, that we would be basing all of our decision making and policy on science. And it would be data-driven using our Vermont data—and if we didn't have Vermont data, national or international data—and we communicated that really from the get go and continued to return to that theme all along.

JOHNSON:

Levine appears in a new ASTHO video about improving public health through data and communication. In it, he offers his colleagues some advice.

LEVINE:

First of all, I hope you're blessed to have a strong and seasoned communications team as I had. And if that's a weakness in your division, make sure you pay attention to that because you'll need them throughout.

Number two, I would say if you haven't already taken the course, take Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication 101. It's critical to have that information and to behave as those principles dictate. That includes not only expressing empathy as a way to earn respect and trust, but also expressing humility—knowing that there were so many times we did not have all the information we needed, science didn't have all that information, and we needed to be patient but offer our best appraisal.

JOHNSON:

Levine says much of Vermont's messaging success was made possible by having the health department's communications team involved in every phase of the response.

LEVINE:

As we moved towards a phase of the pandemic, where we actually were thinking about coming out of some of the more restrictive postures we were in. We had a team called the restart team that really addressed all sectors of society—the socioeconomic, the business community, the school community, you name it—and we had our communications team integrated into that process so they had a level of awareness while things were evolving and could be prepared to deliver the appropriate messages at the appropriate time.

JOHNSON:

You can watch ASTHO's new video with Dr. Levine and others using the link in the show notes.

DAVID GROSSMAN:

Violence has become a public health crisis, particularly lately with rising rates of gun deaths.

JOHNSON:

Dr. David Grossman with nonprofit healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente sharing news about a new financial commitment the company has made to its recently created Center for Gun Violence Research and Education.

GROSSMAN:

So, we've allocated $25 million dollars to the center to support the work I've described and research and education to both develop and scale innovation, innovative, evidence-based solutions.

JOHNSON:

Grossman says public health plays a big role in the campaign to reduce gun violence, especially when it comes to providing data.

GROSSMAN:

I think first and foremost that state health officials should ensure that they have robust systems in place to track firearm injuries and deaths, especially through the full implementation of the National Violent Death Reporting System, NVDRS, which has been around since 2002. But it's taking a long time to get fully implemented across the 50 states.

JOHNSON:

According to Grossman, gun violence is a problem that requires involvement from everyone in a position to make a difference.

GROSSMAN:

This truly is going to need the effort of public health but also is going to need to include others as well. As I indicated, researchers were hoping that healthcare providers can get more involved in helping solve these issues. And of course, public health leaders are going to need to help with their elected officials as well.

JOHNSON:

You can read more about Kaiser Permanente's announcement using the link in the show notes.

Also today, ASTHO's Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge writes about five Black women who made Her-story. She tells us how they've inspired her life and work. The blog article celebrating Black History Month is online now—you can read it using the link in the show notes.

Finally this morning, ASTHO's latest Insight and Inspiration event is coming up next Wednesday, February 22, at 3p.m. Eastern time. Learn how to manage your exposure to see stress and trauma with help from Dr. Kemia Sarraf, founder and CEO of Lodestar. You can save a seat in the online event using the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.