ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

District epidemiologists often rely on healthcare providers to supply medical information regarding reportable diseases to properly investigate cases.

It becomes difficult when providers deny the epidemiologists patient information due to the uncertainty of public health and/or HIPAA exemption laws. It is also challenging when the office staff is not knowledgeable on disease specific information.

When information is withheld, there is a delay in completing case investigations, while high priority cases and outbreaks that include emerging infectious diseases can be missed or lost to follow up.

BACKGROUND

This project could not have been possible without the support from thefollowing individuals. Thank you for time and expertise.

Cobb & Douglas Public Health: -Rachel Franklin MPH, Director of Epidemiology & Health Assessment-Deanna Crosby MPH, Epidemiologist I-Ginnie Campbell BSN, RN, Disease Surveillance Nurse -Alexis Wilson MPH, CDC Public Health Associate -Marie Paul-David, STD/HIV Program Manager -Sherita Stanley, Communicable Disease Specialist -Gurleen Roberts, MPH, Director of Quality Management

  

  

PURPOSE

  

The Public Health Talk (The Talk) initiative was established at Cobb and Douglas Public Health in 2014 by the Epidemiology Department.

The Talk provides a format for local epidemiologists to informally meet and educate all staff of health care facilities (medical providers, nurses, office managers, administrative assistants, etc) on the notifiable disease list, EIDs, outbreaks, STI guidelines and provide relevant materials for their use. . 

  1. Introduction to Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Letter of Public Health Exceptions to HIPAA - Notifiable Disease Reporting list/form - 1-866- PUB-HLTH (PH emergency hotline) - “How Healthy Are We?” district annual report

2. Emerging Infectious Diseases - Ebola & Zika: patient evaluation and CDC guidance

3. Vaccine Preventable Diseases - Measles, Varicella, and Pertussis Protocols/Guidance - Influenza – CDC ILI Sentinel Providers

4. Hepatitis - Recommendations for hepatitis testing - Interpretation of hepatitis serologic test results - Perinatal Hepatitis B program

5. Gastrointestinal Diseases - CDC Enteric Cheat Sheet - Follow-up testing and exclusion guidelines - Facility-specific guidelines for cases/outbreaks

6. Other Notifiable Diseases - Animal Bites/ Rabies reporting - STI/HIV guidelines

7. Other health department services/resources

1. Reference bindera. Public Health contact informationb.“How Healthy Are We?” district annual reportc. DPH reportable disease posterd. Disease guidelines and information sheetse. Lab testing instructions

2. Pertussis testing materials (swabs/culture media)

3. Free male and female condoms

4. Disease posters

1. Evaluation and Satisfaction Survey - Satisfaction survey developed in Sept. 2015

- Updated in January 2016 for evaluation- Current Epidemiology QI project

2. Expand to specialty providers (OB/GYN, vets, etc)

3. Develop a local level newsletter to have continued communication between local public health and providers

4. Develop disease-specific decision trees

5. Use NACCHO LINC grant to aid in supplies/ resources for providers (pending)

Public Health TalksMay 2014 - Feb 2016

*Total: 31 Talks

RESOURCES PROVIDEDTALK CONTENT

  

LESSONS LEARNED & NEXT STEPS

RESULTS

* 3 of 8 health care facilities (38%) had staff members that were not aware of the reportable disease list prior to the Talk.

After the presentation a primary care facility stated “the information was useful and we plan to make it useful to our patients!”

Bridging the Gap between Public Health and the Health Care Community: The Public Health Talk

Puja Bharucha, MPH