Appalachian District Health Department

Policy and Procedure Policy Name Management Operations Policies Policy Topic Media and Public Relations

Section 200

Approved Date:8-06

Chapter 220

Revision Date:11-26-12

Purpose: To establish and maintain a system to receive and provide health alerts and public health response for health care providers, emergency responders and the community. Policy: The ADHD will provide health alerts and advisories to the news media and the medical community to inform the public and key stakeholders of disease outbreaks or other potential public health threats. The agency will also utilize media to engage community stakeholders in educating about and solving community health concerns and solutions. Procedures: 1. Members of the Epi Team will be trained to respond to media requests/inquiries. Questions will be directed to members in their specific area of expertise. 2. When a request for information from the media occurs through a routine phone calls to the health department, take the media partner’s name and number and inform him/her that their request will be forwarded to the appropriate person; and they will be called back as soon as possible or by close of the next business day. 3. The message will be given to the supervisor who will forward the message to the appropriate Epi Team member. 4. The PIO, designated PIO back-up, or the Health Director will approve all press-releases. 5. Information will be disseminated by phone, email, and/or fax to the medical community and key stakeholders. 6. All television interviews will be coordinated through the PIO. 7. Staff will follow the ADHD Telecommunications/Crisis Communication Plan for specific protocols for television interviews, social media, press releases, and answering media questions in general. 8. Inquiries about the budget, legislative issues, personnel issues or controversial topics will be forwarded to the Health Director. 9. The point of contact for Public Health Emergency issues, reports or questions is the Communicable Disease/Preparedness Coordinator (CD/PC). The back-up is the Watauga County Nursing Supervisor.

1|Management Operations Policies – Media and Public Relations

Appalachian District Health Department

Policy and Procedure Policy Name Management Operations Policies Policy Topic Media and Public Relations

Section 200

Approved Date:8-06

Chapter 220

Revision Date:11-26-12

10. The CD/PC will then notify the Health Director and the county nursing supervisor of any Public Health Emergency issues, reports, and/or inquiries. If the supervisor is informed before the Health Director or the CD/PC, the supervisor will notify the CD/PC immediately. 11. ADHD has a media/technology team made of cross-disciplinary members from each county that provides guidance and recommendations for media relations and the ADHD website. 12. The media/technology team meets routinely as needed and uses a variety of media to reach out to the public and stakeholders using earned and paid media as funds and time permit. 13. Information submitted to media partners will be documented by the staff that coordinates the media activity. The staff member will maintain copies of the information submitted and will include the activity in annual program reports.

2|Management Operations Policies – Media and Public Relations