The Challenge
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is CDC’s premier publication for the reporting of scientific information for disease prevention and control, environmental health, health promotion and health education activities. It is relied on by scientists, public health and healthcare professionals, government officials for dependable, current and breaking public health information.
Several publications come out of the MMWR office: The Weekly, Reports and Recommendations, Surveillance Summaries, and Supplements. To meet the requirement of influential, accurate, objective, and well-written information in a timely (and sometimes expedited) manner, CDC requires technical and program support services. Specifically, we provide skillsets ranging from technical writer/editors, desktop publishing, web development, maintenance and support, and health communication specialists.
The Solution
Karna’s team supports the review, and publication dissemination of weekly and serial reports as well as additional resources such as those addressing public health emergency responses, depending on the urgency of the event such as Ebola, Zika, or Opioids. First, writer-editors start once a report is reviewed. They help resolve reviewers’ comments by liaising between reviewers and report authors (which include CDC subject matter experts, as well as external subject matter experts from health departments, academic institutions, and other affiliations). They must ensure the reports are written clearly (Federal Plain Language Guidelines) and concisely while maintaining the accuracy of scientific content. Once the report content is finalized, Karna’s desktop publishers create and edit graphics and prepare the report layout for print and web publication. Our health communication specialists support the planning, implementation, and assessment of MMWR health communication and promotion activities. In addition, they help create, coordinate, and disseminate social media for MMWR publication promotion, support the MMWR podcast series and also develop content for the MMWR website. Karna’s web team is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the programs website. Our web managers post the finalized reports to the web, design and maintain web layout and provide web analytics to the MMWR Office for evaluation purposes. In addition, Karna uses a web-based platform to disseminate CDC information to decision makers, public health practitioners, and the public while adhering to CDC web standards and Section 508 requirements.
The Result
CDC’s MMWR Weekly ranked 2nd in 2018 among the 180 journals in the category of Public, Environmental and Occupational Health in the Science Citation Index Expanded edition of Journal Citations Reports. Through the contributions of CDC authors and the support work done by Karna LLC and Tanaq Corporation, “the voice of CDC” influences and enhances public health by providing timely, authoritative, and useful science and recommendations for public health action.
