Webinar Series

Webinar Date: 14 December 2021

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Nursing in Disasters - Reflections from Médecins Sans Frontières

Listen to nurses from the international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) as they reflect on their personal experiences and those of their nursing colleagues globally, describing the role and challenges of nursing in disasters.

This panel presentation features Melissa Hozjan, Maria Teresa Green, Corinne Heaume, Vicky Treacy-Wong. Special thanks to Odeda Benin-Goren for helping organize this presentation.

Webinar Date: 3 October 2021

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One Health and the Pandemic Response

This presentation covers the One Health concept and approach, which have been of significant interest at the G7 and G20 summits and recent WHO meetings this year. For students and professionals interested in Public Health and Global Health, it is now necessary to know about One Health. For those who want to go into clinical medicine, having a One Health mindset can improve their quality of medicine.

Additionally, the pandemic response is evaluated and solutions to current challenges are explored in the presentation. Lastly, participants will learn how to improve communication skills to improve their medicine when working with patients and their families.

This presentation was organized in collaboration with One Health Lessons and student groups from the University of New England - College of Osteopathic Medicine and Rowan University - School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Webinar Date: 14 July 2021

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Population-Based Management Approach to Pandemics and Other Public Health Crises

The COVID-19 response, recovery, and vaccine distribution challenges have highlighted the urgent need for a new multi-disciplinary model for population-based management (PBM). This model would be supported by a global public health database applicable to pandemics and other public health crises. The PBM teams would be led by public health professionals and incorporate physicians, nurses, veterinarians, anthropology, ecologists, data scientists, epidemiologists, emergency managers, environmental health specialists, geographers, and software developers.

The operational knowledge of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery within this team would ensure data-driven decisions are made that reflect local community needs and risks. This would allow local, national, and global needs and capabilities to be identified and centered on the most vulnerable populations with informed decisions made by a multi-disciplinary team. Without this type of approach, there is an increased risk of interventions and mitigation strategies not reflecting “whole of society” needs, including unequal distribution of vaccines and treatment, care, and support during a health crisis.

This presentation describes how this model can be implemented, support the World Health Organization and its partners, the database requirements, and modalities of functioning for PBM teams.

Webinar Date: 22 June 2021

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Reflections on Palliative Care in Public Health Emergencies from Ebola to COVID

This webinar, presented by Prof. Elysée Nouvet and Dr. Kevin Bezanson, provides reflections on the humanitarian imperatives, key challenges, and strategies for supporting individuals at risk of dying in public health emergencies involving the isolation of individuals for infection control reasons. In 2016, the Humanitarian Health Ethics (HHE) research group launched an international study on palliative care in humanitarian crises, that involved a number of sub-studies. This presentation summarizes findings from this research, with a focus on findings from the sub-study conducted in Guinea in the aftermath of its 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak and its implications for COVID-19 patients in a range of settings.

The Guinean study in focus involved Interviews with surviving patients, healthcare providers in Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs), and families of Guineans who died in ETCs. Provide troubling and clear detail on life and death in the ETC, these accounts serve as a basis for clarifying the layers of factors rendering the provision of end-of-life palliative care difficult in this particular public health emergency healthcare setting. These accounts also, however, speak to elements of care that, even in the midst of loss, fear, and limited resources, can provide some comfort to the dying and their families. Findings from the Guinea Ebola study on palliative care serve as a point of departure for consideration of policies, practices, and training that might serve to support commitments to ensuring dignified death and a reduction of suffering in other public health emergencies involving the isolation of patients from loved ones.

Webinar Date: 10 February 2021

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Lend a Shoulder - COVID-19 Vaccination Operation in Israel

Beginning in December 2020, Israel started the operation “Lend a Hand,” or as it is now called, "Lend a Shoulder.” By the beginning of February 2021, about 4.8 million Israeli citizens had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and about 1.8 million have been vaccinated with the second dose. Although the Israeli population is getting vaccinated at a high rate, there is an increasing number of patients due to new variants of the COVID-19 virus. Furthermore, the character of recent infections is marked by an increase in critical patients and patients from younger age cohorts than seen in the preceding months. As a result, the criteria and priorities for vaccinations are being constantly updated on the basis of the accumulated data.

The “Lend a Shoulder” operation is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, hospitals, HMOs, MDA (the national Israeli EMS), and the Home Front Command (HFC) of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This complicated operation faces logistical issues such as receiving the vaccinations from abroad, storage of the vaccine doses in optimal conditions, and difficulties in distribution to hubs. The initiative also faces issues such as recruiting the staff for the operation, professional issues, and of course, the difficulty in convincing the population to come for the first vaccination and to return for the second one.

Webinar Date: 29 July 2020

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Cultural Diversity and its Impact on COVID-19 Crisis Management

This presentation demonstrates the importance of understanding cultural diversity among multicultural communities, especially during times of prolonged disasters. Israel is a multi-cultural country, with several minorities and religions (Jews, Arabs, Beduins). Each community has its own characteristics, beliefs, and religious rules.

With the increased number of COVID-19 cases, the Israeli government declared a state of lockdown. Many of the minority communities did not follow the regulations due to the fact that their religious beliefs and orders provided by their leaders are considered more important to them.

This behavior increased the number of COVID-19 patients in those communities and emphasized the need for understanding cultural diversity as a fundamental tier in creating trust and cooperation with official authorities. Furthermore, caregivers are required to have cultural sensitivity and a competence-based awareness of the existing cultural differences. Health care in these specific communities can be more efficient with the involvement of community leaders.

Webinar Date: 8 July 2020

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Triaged Out of Critical Care in the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Then?

In this presentation, an overview of results from the rapid qualitative study: “Triage & COVID-19: Global preparedness, socio-cultural considerations, and communication” is discussed. Conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization COVID-19 Social Sciences Working Group, this study aims to clarify what frontline healthcare workers regard as ethically crucial to the care and treatment of patients who will not be prioritized for critical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There exists significant guidance on the allocation of critical care resources during this pandemic, should allocation become necessary. Minimally discussed is the plan for COVID-19 patients with life-threatening diseases who would, under that worst-case scenario, be triaged out of life-saving interventions. Also minimally understood are the ways in which communication of critical triage decision-making to patients, families, and affected populations is handled or imagined in various contexts.

Based on semi-structured interviews (N=52) conducted over 3 weeks, representing all WHO regions, the presenters will highlight similarities and differences in HCPs’ preferences, concerns, and recommendations for critical care resource allocation, decision-making, associated care to seriously ill (at risk of dying) COVID-19 patients triaged out of life-saving interventions, and triage-related communication in specific geographic and cultural contexts.

This study contributes to learning about the perceived benefits, difficulties, and contextual differences that need to be taken into account when sharing information about plans for the triage of seriously ill patients. Ultimately, the goal of this rapid qualitative study is to build evidence that can inform governments and healthcare organizations in their development and implementation of realistic and socially, culturally sensitive COVID-19 triage and triage communication strategies.

Webinar Date: 24 June 2020

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Information Management and Decision Making Regarding Personnel during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Israel

Following the WHO declaration on the COVID-19 global outbreak, the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) established a national headquarters. The "Human Resources" headquarters, managed by the Nursing Division of the MoH, established a fast and reliable infrastructure for data processing to present accurate data related to more than 100 medical organizations providing the daily updated situation reports (SITREPs).

The SITREP created the basis of personnel allocation and staff training related to the COVID-19 situation, as well as the expected reference scenario. Information was collected online from the contact persons in all organizations, establishing a network communication system, and setting a unified report format. The reports focused on health professionals, mostly due to the staff diminution as a result of contact with COVID -19 suspected or confirmed patients. Besides managing the array of sick and quarantined personnel, the "Human Resources Headquarters" responded to the needs of the health organizations according to the reference scenarios and the gaps in personnel in quantity and quality aspects.

This presentation highlights the Israeli experience with human resources management during the COVID-19 outbreak and the preparedness for future responses and gap completions.

Webinar Date: 17 June 2020

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COVID-19 Trials and Testing: Principles and Pharmacology for the Clinical Provider

This presentation discusses the biochemistry of various agents under consideration in the treatment of COVID-19, as well as briefly touches on the science and challenges of developing a vaccine for the SARS-CoV2 virus. Additionally, current tests used in COVID-19 are explored, with a specific focus on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect viral genetic material and Immunoassay Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) designed to demonstrate exposure to viral antigens.

The science, pros, cons, and potential pitfalls in each of these areas are clearly and concisely examined, as well as how they relate to day-to-day clinical practice.

Webinar Date: 2 April 2020

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COVID-19: From a Prehospital to a Global Response

This presentation focuses on the response experiences of Magen David Adom (MDA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) during the COVID-19 outbreak, from a prehospital and global perspective.

MDA, the Israeli National EMS organization and National Society member of the IFRC, has taken a unique role in the COVID-19 response by testing contacts at home and establishing drive-through testing facilities to ease the burden on health care facilities. MDA also operates a large call center answering more than 30,000 calls daily and oversees more than 1,000 people collecting samples. The operation has increased from 200 samples a day to more than 3,000. This part of the webinar also discusses lessons learned from several response services (including Northern Italy) in the framework of the EU project, NO FEAR.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its 192 member National Societies (NS) have been scaling up their efforts to prepare for and respond to this global crisis. As auxiliaries to their respective public authorities, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and their more than 13 million volunteers worldwide have a unique role to play. Staff and volunteers are actively involved in a wide spectrum of COVID-19 public health and clinical response activities, from risk communication and community engagement and community-based health and first aid, to quarantine, screening, isolation, to home, prehospital, and hospital care. In this part of the presentation, IFRC discusses the work that they are currently doing to support individuals and communities around the world.

Webinar Date: 24 March 2020

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Clinical Guidance & Coronavirus: Deploying a Mass Casualty Mindset to Stay Ahead of “The Curve”

This presentation provides clear and concrete clinical applications of the WHO/CDC guidelines, as well as those of various EM/Critical-Care professional societies for front-line practitioners. We will examine lessons learned from Ebola, SARS, H1N1, H5N1, and MERS outbreaks, the Las Vegas Shooting, and Military Mass Casualty Management. Then, we will explore how you can apply those lessons to optimize resources and outcomes for your COVID-19 cases while protecting other vulnerable patients as well as yourself.

Specific topics will include triage, transport, and treatment, the place of POCUS, the role of early noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), advanced airway management, mass casualty/infectious disease ventilator management strategies, escalating to ECMO, and more.

Webinar Date: 4/5 March 2020

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The Mental Health Impact of Australia’s Bushfire Crisis

Australia is burning! An area three times the size of the Amazon has burned. At least 34 people have died, hundreds of thousands more have been displaced from their homes, and over one billion animals have perished. The fires, burning since July 2019, have impacted more than three-quarters of Australia. Smoke concentrations in the air in Melbourne and Sydney have reached almost four times the acceptable limits set out by the World Health Organization (WHO). Respiratory and cardiac medical presentations are increasing.

The long-term health effects of breathing in this smoke will remain unclear for some time. What is clear, however, is that these unprecedented bushfires are having, and will continue to have, a profound impact on the mental health of Australians - on the communities directly affected; on the individuals who have lost loved ones, their homes, their security; on the first responders and thousands of volunteers who, exhausted, continue to respond even as Australia becomes battered by floods, cyclones, and savage storms while these fires still burn. And now, the coronavirus starts to creep across Australia’s borders.

What is the mental health impact of this? How can we best support well-being during a sustained crisis such as this?

Webinar Date: 19 December 2019

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WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE): the Way W(H)E Work

Dr. Nitzan’s presentation highlights how WHE works in emergencies, such as Ukraine and Whole-of-Syria, and emphasizes nursing roles in all stages of the emergency management cycle: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Webinar Date: 7 November 2019

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Acute Stress: A Normal Response to an Abnormal Event

Through his experience as a physician providing medical support for law enforcement, Dr. Kamin learned first-hand about the symptoms of acute stress and how this normal response after a traumatic event differs from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although he was fortunate to have good guidance during this time in his life, Dr. Kamin realized that many who are subjecting themselves to the same potential are not well enough informed or resourced properly. Based on these insights, this talk aims to help prepare willing responders to be better informed and able to do the job they are called upon to do.

Presentation Objectives:

• Discuss acute stress response and how it differs from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);
• Understand how acute stress may manifest and how to address it most efficiently; and
• Discuss treatment options for acute stress and PTSD.

Webinar Date: 25 October 2019

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Better Medicine in Bad Places - Optimizing Trauma Outcomes in Austere Settings

This presentation will feature cutting edge strategies to optimize trauma medicine in austere settings from the short-term to system improvements. Stopping bleeds / stabilizing patients will be covered along with transport, trauma surgery, and training.

Stop the Bleeding and Stabilizing:
Tourniquets, Tranexamic Acid (TXA), AbNormal Saline, Physiologic Fluids, the Trauma Triad of Death, Field Amputations, Fight the Pain, Freeze-dried Plasma, Transfusions, TRALI, TRIM, and more...

Transport, Trauma Surgery, and Training:
Triage, Transport, Telemedicine, and Therapy, Building Capacity and Trauma Systems where there are None, Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), Medical Records, Follow-up, Prosthetics, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Psychosocial Considerations for both Patient and Provider.