Earlier this year, the Scowcroft Institute convened a stakeholder workshop at Texas A&M’s DC Teaching Site to capture lessons observed from the COVID-19 response in the healthcare sector. Under Chatham House Rule to promote open discussion, participants engaged in focused panel discussions on enhancing healthcare delivery and forming and sustaining a Common Operating Picture framework for sharing healthcare data during emergencies. A summary of conclusions presenting actionable recommendations and other insights from the discussion is now available online.
The event united a diverse set of participants, including HHS, DHS, and VA officials alongside representatives from national associations, hospital systems, academia, and private industry who served on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. The discussion drew on participant experiences and lessons learned from the activation of Emergency Support Function 8 (Public Health and Medical Services) Council and the Common Operating Picture built in 2020 during the pandemic response. Key themes discussed include establishing – and understanding how to quickly reactivate and sustain – a Common Operating Picture framework to share healthcare data during emergencies and improve the allocation of scarce healthcare resources. Other emphases included enhancing federal support for medical countermeasures development, careful implementation of policies to strengthen and further onshore the medical supply chain, the importance of routine exercises among federal, state and local partners, and identifying opportunities for telehealth and artificial intelligence to improve preparedness.
Click here to read the full summary of conclusions from the healthcare common operating picture and healthcare delivery workshop.
