starting internet partner services: the new york state experience – kelly firenze – nys doh...
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Starting Internet Partner Services:Starting Internet Partner Services:
The New York State ExperienceThe New York State Experience
Kelly Firenze – – NYS DOH Bureau of STD Control
Judi Bulmer – – NYS DOH Bureau of STD Control
Peter Laqueur, MSW – – NYS AIDS Institute
History
2003 - NYS PTC staff attends HHS training on the STD/HIV Prevention and the Internet
2004 - BSTDC forms Internet Workgroup; = LHD survey disseminated = internet server purchased = pilot protocol developed
2005 - IPN pilot implemented for Early Syphilis 2006 - MSM cultural competency training for FO staff 2007 - Internet Committee expanded/Consultant hired for IPS guidelines development
2005 Support for Internet work
CDC Dear Colleague Letter in 2005 As awareness of the
role and impact of the Internet on STD and HIV transmission increases, the BSTDC IPN Workgroup gains more support from key stake holders and NYS DOH policy makers
Emergence of Disease among MSM: Internet named as only locator
2006 - 71 internet contacts elicited from 2 Primary Syphilis investigations (Downstate and Central NY area)
2007 - HIV positive patient names over 100 partners: e-mail addresses only available locating information (Downstate area)
Primary and Secondary Syphilis – Reported Rates by Sex: NYS Exclusive of NYC,1992-2007 and the Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) Objective
Central New York Syphilis Cluster 2006
Background• ES cluster yields 67 partners (54 internet screen names only)
• prompts expansion of IPS to Central NY
Outcome• 20 (37%) internet partners notified
• 89% of the internet partners were medically evaluated
Lessons Learned….
The Internet has a major impact on facilitating disease transmission as well as disease intervention
Paradigm shift for partner services IPS staff needs expansion Staff need training Guidelines need to be
established
Moving Forward
2007 – expanded survey of 300 state-wide agencies (LHDs/CBOs)
2008 - training module created for selected staff
2009 - NYS guidelines finalized
Key adaptations
Subject: Changed from “Urgent health matter” to blank
New message content for emails Ability to inform of disease specific
exposure Ability to capture dispositions for Internet
cases into STD MIS*
Training for staff…
Pre-training participant questionnaire used to establish baseline knowledge, skills and attitudes
Two and a half day session for Regional Supervisors and selected DIS Staff
Training outline Overview of websites Cultural sensitivity How to set up profiles How to Email & IM Live mock communication between IPS staff
IPS Expansion To All Regions in State
May 2008:
One trained BSTDC staff member designated as “lead” IPS staff for each of 5 regions with RS serving as back-up
IPS support and communication
Weekly conference calls for IPS staff
NYS DOH IPS Profiles have been created on many websites….
***
Data collection and evaluation…
statewide Contact Screen Name / E-mail database (record search)
IPS Logs – documents IPS investigation activity and outcome
20 New IPS-specific Dispositions
Statewide IPS database
Reframing IPS success…
• A “numbers game”• Fuzzy data
evaluating the “L” Dispo
Traditional vs. Internet Partner Services:Issues for IPS consideration…
Confidentiality Out of Jurisdiction (OOJ) Adjusting the interview process HIV PN Training
Issues Continued…
IT Cultural competency Separating “personal” from “professional” Working in online venues Time and effort
NYS DOH IPS Guidelines Released
IPS growth continues…
Creation of NYS IPS Outreach Group on…
Creation of National IPS group
Creation of National group for OOJ Coordinators
Questions & Discussion…
For Additional Questions
Contact NYS DOH Bureau of STD Control
Judi Bulmer (518) 474-3598