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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Joanna H. Watson, MPH¹, Gregory M. Bogdan, PhD¹, Anna M. Seroka, RN, MEd¹, S. David Pote, RS, REM², and William Brinton, MD³. (1) Research Department, Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, 777 Bannock St., Mail Code 0180, Denver, CO 80204, 303-739-1239, gbogdan@rmpdc.org, (2) San Luis Valley Exercise Design Team, PO Box 1490, Alamosa, CO 81101, (3) Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program, San Luis Valley Public Health Region, 8900 Independence Way, Alamosa, CO 81101

Background: Our call center operates an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system allowing callers to retrieve desired information, especially during times of high volume. A rural public health region partnered with our call center to test the ability of the IVR to automatically monitor compliance of people placed in home isolation. Methods: In October 2005, two volunteers from each of six rural counties were recruited during a pandemic influenza exercise and placed into home isolation for three days. At recruitment, each volunteer's contact information was sent to the state health department and logged in its outbreak management system, which in turn emailed a report to the IVR at our call center. Isolation compliance with the volunteers was done via automatic phone calls generated twice daily from the IVR based on the emailed volunteer lists. Non-compliant cases were identified and call center staff notified local public health personnel by telephone. Results: The IVR made a total of 112 call attempts during the exercise period, with 48.2% of the calls completed by the isolated individual, with 32.1% of attempts requiring a second call to verify compliance. Local public health follow-up was required on 9.8% of IVR calls. Conclusions: The IVR worked well with this initial test, though several problems were identified. IVR system adjustments were made based on recommendations of the rural public health region, and these modifications will be tested with an urban population in May 2006. This methodology shows promise as a means to monitor home quarantine and isolation compliance.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the IVR System and how it could be used for quarantine and isolation compliance monitoring
• List the benefits and drawbacks of using the system for quarantine and isolation compliance in a rural setting
• Educate conference attendees to identify the viability of using an IVR-like system for quarantine compliance monitoring in their own communities.

Keywords: Disease Management, Emerging Health Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation