Disaster Recovery & Public Health:Lessons Learned from the US Virgin Islands

Disaster Recovery & Public Health:Lessons Learned from the US Virgin Islands

Wednesday, October 2nd  12:00 - 1:00 PM

→Disasters can happen in any location. Frequently, healthcare organizations are unaware of the recovery process following a disaster, and the opportunities that arise to rebuild more resilient healthcare systems. Drawing from lessons learned from hurricane recovery efforts in the United States Virgin Islands and the recent hurricanes, this presentation will review strategies for healthcare recovery that center on consensus and coalition building. Key areas for prioritization emerged from working groups led by local government agencies, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations. These topics include developing new care coordination models, integrating preparedness into healthcare delivery, establishing a health information exchange, and strengthening the local healthcare workforce. Participants will leave having a better understanding of what to expect during recovery after a natural disaster.

Thomas Bane, MSW, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services