On Wednesday, the chief executive of the US Public Health Service announced reforms aimed at making the organization more agile.
Planned changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — what CDC leaders call a “reset” — will help prevent COVID-19, monkeypox, and other public health threats. It comes amid ongoing criticism of the authorities' response. Changes include internal staffing changes and procedures to speed up data release.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told staff about the change on Wednesday. She said this was her CDC initiative and not directed by the White House or other government officials.
"I feel it's my responsibility to lead this agency to a better place after her three really difficult years," Wallenski told her Associated Press.
CDC is an Atlanta-based federal agency with a $12 billion budget and over 11,000 employees. An agency charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. While it is customary for each CDC director to make some reorganization, Wallenski's actions came within a broader demand for change.
has long been criticized for being too heavy-handed for not acting swiftly on new health threats. dissatisfaction increased dramatically. Experts say the CDC is aware of the amount of virus that has entered the United States from Europe, recommends people wear masks, says the virus can spread through the air, and systematically kills new variants. It took me some time to harden my tests.
"Frankly, she confirmed during COVID that the structure of the CDC was not designed to take in information, digest it, and disseminate it to the public at the speed required," she said. Yale University of Public Health.
Wallenski, who took over as director in January 2021, has long said agencies need to move faster and communicate better, but her tenure has been a stumbling block. continued.
In April, she sought a detailed review of her agency, resulting in the announcement of changes. Her reorganization proposal must be approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. CDC officials say they hope to have the full package of changes finalized, approved, and on track by early next year.
Some changes are still being worked out, but the steps announced Wednesday are:
- rather than waiting for research to go through peer review and publication, According to the CDC journal's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which increases the use of preprinted scientific reports to obtain actionable data.
- Agency Communications Her office will be restructured and the CDC website will be further revamped to make agency guidance for the public clearer and easier to find.
— Change the period of time agency leaders devote to the outbreak response to at least six months attempt.
— Creation of a new Executive Council to help Wallenski set strategy and priorities.
— Appoint Mary Wakefield as her Senior Counselor to implement the changes. Wakefield led the Department of Health Resource Services during the Obama administration and served as second director of HHS. Wakefield, 68, started Monday.
— Change the organization chart of government agencies to undo some changes made during the Trump administration.
– Facilitate partnerships with other agencies. establish an Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to support the development of health, and a Higher Level Office on Health Equity.
Wallenski also said, "We're going to remove some of the existing reporting layers, and we want to work to break down some of the silos." I didn't say exactly, but emphasized that the overall change was not a redrawing of the org chart, but a rethinking of how the CDC conducts business and motivates its staff.
"This is more than just moving boxes on the org chart," she said.
Schwartz said the flaws in the federal response extend beyond the CDC, as the White House and other agencies were heavily involved.
The reorganization of the CDC is a positive step, but "hopefully it's not the end of the story," she said. He would like to see a "broader explanation" of how the federal government will handle the health crisis.
