Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107762

Charles H. Fautin, RN, MPH and Eileen Marma, RN. Public Health, Benton County Health Department, Oregon, PO Box 530, Corvallis, OR 97339, 541-766-6840, Charlie.fautin@co.benton.or.us

Model for functional county/university infectious disease preparedness planning

Benton County, Oregon (pop. 79,000) is home to Oregon State University (student pop. 19,000). Oregon State University has a sizeable enrollment of international students and a high frequency of international travel among students, staff, and faculty. In March 2003, as SARS first emerged, Benton County Health Department and OSU Student Health Services recognized local vulnerability to fast-moving, 21st century communicable disease threats. Local response was the formation of IDRT (Infectious Disease Response Team). IDRT is a joint public health/university task group to plan for quarantine, isolation, security and public information within HIPAA and FERPA, should SARS be identified on the OSU campus. In August 2003, as the SARS threat waned, a foreign visitor infected with measles arrived on the OSU campus. The IDRT was quickly mobilized to arrange outpatient medical isolation for two measles cases and short-term quarantine for 14 contacts. IDRT also coordinated media and public information releases. Following that experience, the IDRT revised its protocols to prepare for a wider spectrum of infectious diseases. The protocols have since proven effective in quickly mobilizing resources for campus residents with active tuberculosis. The protocols are kept current through ongoing monthly task group meetings that include public health, student health services, housing, dining, public and environmental safety, university administration, international studies, Greek life, and other stakeholders. The protocols provide flexible pubic health guidance, adaptable to unpredictable needs as well as current contact information for critical personnel.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Describe some common barriers to public health / academic collaboration in control of infectious disease outbreaks
• Identify key stakeholders for developing public health / university collaborations
• Articulate the issues presented by federal HIPAA and FERPA statutes
• Define the goals and objectives for public health / university infectious disease preparedness collaborations
• Develop action plans for building public health / academic infectious disease collaboratives in their jurisdictions

Keywords: Collaboration, Communicable Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation