Crisis Communications for Leaders in Disasters

Introduction: The COVID-19 crisis and future crises stress the medical system and require leaders to rise to the occasion. Some leaders are very successful while others flounder. This was seen at every level of government and health care. Applying the principles of crisis leadership and communication (and avoiding pitfalls) will increase the collective readiness to respond effectively during stressful times. Methods: Literature review and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Results: While there is robust literature on the topics of crisis communications and leadership, this training is lacking in healthcare circles. This presentation aims to introduce the subject and advocate for increased training in Crisis Communications. The US CDC has developed a freely downloadable training manual, along with tools for rapidly developing a crisis message. Furthermore, a checklist to help with the presentation and a list of communication pitfalls to avoid are included. These tools allow for both pre-crisis preparation and just-in-time training. Conclusion: Leaders can use these tools to prepare in advance for crisis communications, avoiding common mistakes that reduce communication effectiveness.