“Effective immediately”: Publishing in the age of COVID-19
The original draft of the “All Employees” email read “Effective Friday, March 13.” But as our Executive Committee reviewed the announcement, Darrell Blood, CFO of the Wyanoke Group, asked, “do we really want to do this on Friday the 13th?” It quickly changed to “effective immediately.” No one laughed, but no one argued against the change either.
It all happened so quickly. On Wednesday, we were still gathering information and formulating our plan. By Thursday afternoon, all Wyanoke Group employees who were able and equipped to do so were asked to work from home. Effective immediately. Within a few days, 184 of the 191 staff members of Healio, Healio Live, Healio Strategic Solutions and SLACK Incorporated will be working remotely. Most already are. Those that remain in office have relocated to increase social distancing.
On Friday, Healio published as usual, including seven new posts to the Healio COVID-19 Resource Center. We have been on the story from the beginning, the first story, “SARS-like illness has infected dozens in China,” posted January 7 and the story of the first case in the United States was posted January 21. And still, it all happened so quickly.
Last week, as the response to COVID-19 ramped up, a record number of US physicians visited Healio. COVID-19 coverage dominated the most read story list for physicians from all specialties. It was a reminder that what we do is important. Health care providers trust and rely on Healio, especially in times like this.
It felt strange, almost surreal, walking around the office Thursday as people packed their gear. No one knew when we’d be back. No one knew when we’d see each other again. No one knew when things will be normal again. But it was no surprise that no one missed a beat the next day. The best specialty medical news team in the business simply did their thing, with colleagues across the Wyanoke Group following suit.
As the number of cases rise, events cancel and schools close, it is clear that COVID-19 will touch us all in one way or another. Our company, and our country, have not faced a public health emergency like this in our lifetime. In the “All Employees” email Peter Slack, CEO and president of the Wyanoke Group, correctly said, “Now more than ever we are counting on your dedication and commitment.” On Friday, Healio answered the call. It may only be day 1 and the challenge just beginning, but I am tremendously grateful and proud of that response, and hopeful that we will all get through this together.
– John C. Carter
Chief Operating Officer, The Wyanoke Group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-c-carter-a42aba11/
Twitter: @JohnCCarter
Disclosures: Carter is Chief Operating Officer of The Wyanoke Group®. Healio®, Healio® Strategic Solutions, Healio® Live and SLACK® Incorporated are wholly owned subsidiaries of The Wyanoke Group. He has been a SLACK Incorporated or Wyanoke Group employee since 1982. Along the way he has worked as editor, writer, marketer, product and project developer and manager.