Survey: Digital Transformation Can Help Prepare for Future Crises

June 29, 2022

Ernst & Young LLP recently published a survey that found the majority of U.S. public health officials agree digital transformation can help prepare for future crises—but lack harmony on next steps

Janette Wider

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According to a June 21 press release, Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) published a survey entitled “Reimagining Public Health Survey.” This survey was conducted by Longitude Research Limited between February 11, 2022 and March 11, 2022 and polled 301 C-suite and senior leaders (commissioner, deputy commissioner, director, head of department, SVP/VP, senior manager) within public health and/or health and human services government agencies in the U.S.

The release states that “Public health organizations face substantial challenges in the post-pandemic era, which digital technology could help to resolve by addressing barriers to implementation. To move forward, public health leaders should clarify strategy from the top-down. Modernization efforts should be presented as a catalyst toward meeting public health’s most challenging and essential goals, and building consensus among service delivery teams and decision-makers is essential.”

“Further, limited funds do not have to restrict forward progress,” the release adds. “Aligning budgets to digital transformation efforts, even by adopting lower-cost solutions, can help prepare public health agencies for future emergencies. And public health officials can highlight the broader societal role of their work to attract employees, especially those who are motivated by the positive impact of health equity.”

Highlights from the report include:

Seventy-eight percent of respondents say they have to work hard to re-establish public health’s neutral political role
Eighty-five percent of respondents say that they believe a “silver lining” of COVID-19 was that it brought weaknesses to light in operating infrastructure
Fifty-six percent of respondents say that modernization can drive equitable public health outcomes
Eighty-two percent of respondents say that there is a need to modernize their organization

Thirty-nine percent of delivery team respondents say the same

Thirty-four percent of respondents are pursing “root and branch” upgrades of their organization’s IT systems

Ten percent are integrating system-wide transformations

Fifty-four percent of respondents say they believe they can get money to manage another crisis on the same level as COVID-19

Nineteen percent say they would not be able to get money to manage another COVID-19-type crisis

Fifty-six percent say it is more difficult now to secure staff with skills to implement technology and data plans
Regarding turnover, 56 percent say they are experiencing increased attrition among employees with the most valuable skills

Belinda Minta, EY U.S. public health services transformation leader, was quoted in the release saying that “After the disruption of COVID-19, public health will never be the same—but the future is still unclear. From the politicization of pandemic interventions to pre-existing operational challenges, today’s public health leaders face both extrinsic and intrinsic obstacles. These must be addressed today to adequately prepare for tomorrow’s anticipated and unexpected public health emergencies.”