Beyond Crisis: Learning from the Ebola Panic to Better Reach, Teach, and Reassure Employees and the Public

While real-time analysis of the US Ebola panic focused on the obvious-crisis communications-a new, deeper look reveals significant gaps in the fundamentals of internal and external communications needed to reach, teach, and reassure a frightened public and our own employees. From hospital nurses demanding better training, to public officials who fueled rather than quelled citizen concerns, the 2014 Ebola panic provides a must-learn-from case study that helps us prepare for the inevitable next "epidemic"situation and improve all facets of day-to-day communications. Two veteran healthcare executives dissect what needs to change and how marketers/communicators can lead this effort.