Key Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode

• Apple and Google Partner on COVID-19 Contact Tracing Technology
• University of Washing Partners with Microsoft on Contact-Tracing App

Key TakeAways

Contact Tracing Technology

• Multiple tech companies are joining forces on contact tracing technologies by creating apps that will use blue tooth technology to trace contact with people who have tested positive for Coronavirus.
  • Apple and Google
  • Microsoft and University of Washington have partnered up to create a contact tracing app that helps public health agencies identify who has come in contacts with someone that had COVID-19
• Contact tracing will be very important until we have a vaccine in place and will provide physical and technical opportunities.
  • Furloughed employees can be trained on how to become a contact tracer
• Communicating to the community to opt into contact tracing apps to help flatten the curve will have to be done thoughtfully as a health system.
  • It’s important to talk about privacy and to approach the topic carefully to come up with the right messages to educate the community so they can understand the technology and privacy issues

Next Step for Health Systems and Hospitals 

• Currently, we’re helping clients revise the crisis playbooks they had in place before COVID-19. We want to measure how well we responded, keep what worked, and figure out what needs to be enhanced so we can rapidly and effectively respond if there is a second wave.
• Prepare your crisis playbook:
  • How did your team respond to supply chain management and operations?
  • Were you able to do media training with executives quickly?
  • How interchangeable is your marketing and communications staff?
  • Does your staff know their roles during a crisis?

Preparing Communications for Reopening Institutions 

• Consumers and employees who weren’t on the front line might be fearful of returning to hospitals, so it’s important to rebuild trust by providing communication internally and externally regarding how we’re going to keep people safe.
  • Will there be a limit on the number of people allowed in an elevator?
  • How many people will be allowed in the employee break room?
  • How are we going to operate our cafeteria and food services for patients and visitors?
• The logistics will be challenging to navigate, so it’s important from a communications and marketing perspective to work hand and hand with your operations staff as soon as possible.
• It will be important to use the individuals who have been on the front lines to help share and train employees who are just now coming back to work.

Mergers and Acquisitions 

• M&A’s are going to be a big topic due to the financial strain health systems have faced during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Some health systems have delayed M&A activity after COVID-19 hit, but they are now ramping back up and are preparing for potential announcements.
• A few health systems have publicly paused previously announced M&A activity.
• Some health systems that have stronger financial pockets are using this opportunity to expand their M&A activity. A few things to consider when expanding during this time:
  • It cannot reduce the health systems ability to address current COVID-19 issues
  • Expansion should be announced once systems start returning to normal
  • If you are the acquiring health system, it’s important to understand that decisions to furlough or cut employee pay are a reputation risk