The influenza pandemic caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus underscores the immediate and critical need to prepare for a public health emergency in which thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people suddenly seek and require medical care in communities across the United States. Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations draws from a broad spectrum of expertise-including state and local public health, emergency medicine and response, primary care, nursing, palliative care, ethics, the law, behavioral health, and risk communication-to offer guidance toward establishing standards of care that should apply to disaster situations, both naturally occurring and man-made, under conditions in which resources are scarce. This book explores two case studies that illustrate the application of the guidance and principles laid out in the report. One scenario focuses on a gradual-onset pandemic flu. The other scenario focuses on an earthquake and the particular issues that would arise during a no-notice event. Outlining current concepts and offering guidance, this book will prove an asset to state and local public health officials, health care facilities, and professionals in the development of systematic and comprehensive policies and protocols for standards of care in disasters when resources are scarce. In addition, the extensive operations section of the book provides guidance to clinicians, health care institutions, and state and local public health officials for how crisis standards of care should be implemented in a disaster situation.

This book investigates the relationship between information communication and community development in China in the new media age, drawing on theoretical resources from journalism, communication, urban sociology, community management, and the activities of social movements. Contrasting existing scholarship that centers on new technologies and virtual aspects of today’s communication, the study highlights community residents’ daily praxis in real social spaces and the interaction between online and offline communications. Through content analysis, case studies, questionnaire surveys, and in-depth interviews, the author explores the social engagement of communication in public expressions and negotiations among Chinese urban communities. From micro, meso, and macro levels respectively, three interactive mechanisms are discussed: (1) media use and social consciousness and mobilization; (2) new media and changes in community governance; and (3) state-community interplay. Based on these mechanisms, the author proposes the idea of “the construction of grassroots social communication”, exploring approaches to the modernization of social governance and attainment of social interests by optimizing information communication. Communication and Community in the New Media Age will appeal to academics and students studying communication and social transition in China, new media and society, urban sociology, and public governance.

This book project has been an opportunity to share the plight of the flood-vulnerable communities of Davao City, Philippines. Aside from being a requirement to graduate under the PhD Development Studies program, the major objective is to find ways how the academe can help in alleviating the risks of flooding as a recurring disaster in these areas. As extensive literature on disaster studies examined risk communication and disaster risk management, it has been found to be discussed as separate concerns. These studies emphasize the significant role of risk communication and management at the level of the communities to enhance community preparedness and reduce the risks triggered by disasters like flooding. However, no literature has been found specifically in the area of risk communication management. The study, therefore, aimed to focus on this gap in the literature which integrates risk communication with disaster risk management towards a more integrative approach to risk reduction. Using a convergent parallel mixed method design, the study was conducted utilizing both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in the data collection and analysis guided by the integrated frameworks of the disaster risk management and the social amplification of risk (SARF). The merging of both results in the analysis and interpretation helped identify the convergence or divergence of the findings. Results of the study revealed that the risk reduction strategies can be further enhanced through a risk communication management using a localized and participatory approach in the proper knowledge transfer of flood risk communication among the stakeholders involved, placing the community as the central actor for amplification. This book highlights the proposed community-based flood-risk communication management (CBFRCM) framework as a modification of the SARF labeled as the Flood Risk Amplification Communication Theory (FRACT) as an alternative framework. The application of the theory necessitates the enhancement of risk communication management towards the resilience of the flood-vulnerable communities, specifically in the context of Davao City, Philippines. The authors wish to share these findings and encourage that the proposed theory be used in other contexts and optimize the role of risk communication as part of the risk reduction approaches of risk managers and policy makers on disaster management.

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the societal disruption it has brought, national governments and the international community have invested billions of dollars and immense amounts of human resources to develop a safe and effective vaccine in an unprecedented time frame. Vaccination against this novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), offers the possibility of significantly reducing severe morbidity and mortality and transmission when deployed alongside other public health strategies and improved therapies. Health equity is intertwined with the impact of COVID-19 and there are certain populations that are at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. In the United States and worldwide, the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on people who are already disadvantaged by virtue of their race and ethnicity, age, health status, residence, occupation, socioeconomic condition, or other contributing factors. Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine offers an overarching framework for vaccine allocation to assist policy makers in the domestic and global health communities. Built on widely accepted foundational principles and recognizing the distinctive characteristics of COVID-19, this report's recommendations address the commitments needed to implement equitable allocation policies for COVID-19 vaccine.

Volume numbers determined from Scope of the guidelines, p. 12-13.

"This is a timely discussion of using new information technologies and media for communicating diverse health information to diverse audiences. This book is useful, readable, current, well organized, and seems to be a unique contribution." --Doody's "In this volume there are examples of how advances in technology not only empower individuals in their interactions with a health system but also enable health professionals to better tailor their work and time for the benefit of patients and clients." -Paul R. Gully, MB, ChB, FRCPC, FFPH,World Health Organization, Geneva Switzerland (From the Foreword) To date, little guidance exists for health care professionals who want and need new ways to communicate health information with each other, their patients, and the general public. To address this need, Health Communication in the New Media Landscape presents innovative, media-based methods of communication to graduate students, educators, health care professionals, public health officials, and communication experts. Health Communication in the New Media Landscape demonstrates the extent to which modern, digital technology can serve as the most practical and efficient form of distributing health-related information. The authors are confident that, if implemented wisely, technology can and will transform the face of health communication as we know it. This unique book addresses the following: The role technology can and will play in health communication How new media can be used to improve health literacy How patients can learn about health-related issues and health care New ways practitioners will be able to communicate with their patients How persons with chronic diseases learn about resources, support systems, and rehabilitation The impact of the new media landscape on health care providers, insurance companies, and health care policies

Building communication capacity is a critical piece of preparing for, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats. The International Health Regulations (IHR) establish risk communicationâ€"the real-time exchange of information, advice, and opinions between experts or officials and people who face a threat to their survival, health, and economic or social well-beingâ€"as a core capacity that World Health Organization member states must fulfill to strengthen the fight against these threats. Despite global recognition of the importance of complying with IHR, 67 percent of signatory countries report themselves as not compliant. By investing in communication capacity, public health and government officials and civil society organizations facing health crises would be prepared to provide advice, information, and reassurance to the public as well as to rapidly develop messages and community engagement activities that are coordinated and take into account social and behavioral dynamics among all sectors. To learn about current national and international efforts to develop the capacity to communicate effectively during times of infectious disease outbreaks, and to explore gaps in the research agenda that may help address communication needs to advance the field, the Forum on Microbial Threats of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a 1.5 day workshop on December 13 and 14, 2016, in Washington, DC. Participants reviewed progress and needs in strengthening communication capacity for dealing with infectious disease threats for both outbreaks and routine challenges in the United States and abroad. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.