H1N1 Flu... "Time Out" for Lessons Learned

This issue of the newsletter of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) critically examines H1N1 communication as it reaches (or not) American Indians and more specifically, American Indians residing in the Bemidji, Minnesota Area. In doing so, GLITC - a consortium of federally recognised Indian tribes in the United States (US) states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Upper Michigan - highlights evaluation questions that can be used in any organisation to debrief the outbreak response(s).

GLITC notes that the news media provided stories daily as the H1N1 appeared in many US communities, and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sustained daily website updates - for instance, click here - conference calls, and press conferences to coordinate outbreak investigation activities while informing the public.

But the relevant question is: Has this information actually reached marginalised American Indian communities? The GLITC provides the following evaluation methodology to assess whether risk communication messages are reaching vulnerable communities. (For each category, the relevant questions are: How can this be improved? What action steps are needed to proceed?):

• A response plan was located and reviewed.
• Sequential steps are listed to provide adequate population protection.
• Information dispersed has been accurate.
• Information dispersed has been timely.
• Supplies have been available as needed.
• Community/organisational medical personnel were informed and active during the outbreak.
• Communication between state and local officials was established and ongoing.
• Critical incidents were systematically reviewed, followed by appropriate operations revisions.
• Team members have responded in a timely manner to changing conditions, as needed.