During the past few months, we have seen one of the biggest health crises of the past 100 years. The coronavirus pandemic has created a health crisis that has not been seen since the Spanish Flu pandemic more than 100 years ago. As a result, many of the inadequacies of the health system have been put on full display. It is important for everyone who is thinking about going into public health to understand the importance of public administration, as a degree in data scientists can help with crisis management. What are some of the most important points to keep an eye on?
The Importance of Distributing Resources Properly
One of the biggest issues that everyone should keep in mind if they are managing a health crises is that resource distribution is going to play a critical role. As we saw with the coronavirus pandemic, different parts of the country got hit at different times. Therefore, some parts of the country are going to need resources more quickly than others. In this situation, it is important for public administration to make sure that resources are distributed appropriately.
Some hospitals are going to be hit with more patients than others. Some hospitals might also have to take care of the sickest patients while others do not. It is important to make sure that nobody who needs life-saving healthcare has to go without it simply because there are not enough resources available.
Funneling Resources Toward a Cure
While the administration has to make sure that there are enough resources for hospitals, it is also important to make sure that enough resources are being put towards finding a cure. In this case, this includes not only antiviral medications but also a vaccine. The reality is that the coronavirus pandemic is going to be with us until we are able to find a vaccine to combat it. Therefore, there is a delicate balancing act that the public administration at the handle. Some resources need to be directed towards treating patients while other resources need to be directed toward stopping the pandemic. This balancing act is one of the most important decisions facing public administration.
Managing Emotions that Arise
Finally, it is also important to talk about the role that emotions are going to play when it comes to managing a health crisis. There are lots of people who are going to have a hard time conceptualizing a public health crisis. A virus is not able to be seen with the naked eye, so there are a lot of people who are going to think that the government is overreacting. Some of the most common emotions that people are going to feel include irritability, and patience, and frustration.
The response of the administration to these emotions is going to be important. It is critical for those in positions of power to validate these emotions as normal while also explaining the reasoning behind decisions in a calm, collected, and cogent manner.
Only by sticking together will we be able to get through this pandemic.