Planning for the next pandemic: Reflections on the early phase of the Australian COVID-19 public health response from the emergency department.
Emerg Med Australas
; 33(4): 759-761, 2021 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1316865
ABSTRACT
EDs play a crucial role as frontline health services throughout public health emergencies, including pandemics. The strength of the Australian public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has mitigated the impact of the pandemic on clinical services, but there has still been a substantial impact on EDs and the health system. We revisit major events and lessons from the first wave of COVID-19 in Australia to consider the implications and avenues for system-level improvements for future pandemic and public health emergency response for EDs. Notwithstanding, the remarkable efforts of healthcare workers across the health system, COVID-19 has uncovered structural and planning challenges and highlighted weaknesses and strengths of the Australian federation. In anticipating future pandemics and other public health threats, particularly in the face of climate change, hard-won lessons from the COVID-19 response should be incorporated in future planning, policies, practice and advocacy.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Disaster Planning
/
Emergency Service, Hospital
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Emerg Med Australas
Journal subject:
Emergency Medicine
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
1742-6723.13799
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