Events

No one could have predicted the impact COVID-19 would have on the world, let alone our own little corner of it. And yet, in late 2019, as reports of a potentially deadly virus began circulating, OU Health leaders immediately set up planning for the worst while hoping for a false alarm. Planning included all medical aspects involved with dealing with a pandemic, but also all aspects of communicating – both internally and externally – information that would help us as we moved forward. So on March 5, 2020, when that first case was reported in our state, OU Health was ready to set up an impromptu press conference within minutes of Governor Stitt completing his announcement. From there, it snowballed.

Travis Doussette with OU Health will talk about how his team went into crisis communications mode, establishing a daily (7-days-a-week) internal communication channel, daily (Monday-Friday) live streaming medical specialist report for reporters, employee notification of new policies, and much more. And six months later, a community impact survey showed the action paid off with the organization’s highest rankings in consumer ratings than ever before.