This document summarizes the Public Health Talk initiative established by Cobb and Douglas Public Health to educate healthcare providers about reportable diseases. It acknowledges the support received from various individuals and departments. The purpose was to informally meet with healthcare staff to discuss the notifiable disease list, emerging infectious diseases, outbreaks, STI guidelines and provide relevant materials. Talks covered topics like Ebola, measles, hepatitis, rabies and provided resources. Lessons learned included some facilities previously unaware of reporting requirements and positive feedback was received. The goal is to expand these talks to more specialty providers and develop disease-specific tools and resources.

1. 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 the
following 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 binder
a. Public Health contact information
b.“How Healthy Are We?” district annual report
c. DPH reportable disease poster
d. Disease guidelines and information sheets
e. 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)
*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