246620 Formalizing a cross-program initiative across HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis programs: Creating a sustainable environment for Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Marcelo Fernandez-Viņa, MPH , Division of Disease Control, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
Caroline Johnson, MD , Division of Disease Control, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
Debra L. D'Alessandro, MPH , Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center, Health Federation of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
M. Ann Ricksecker, MPH , Health Federation of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
BACKGROUND: In September 2010, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) was one of six sites chosen by CDC to be a demonstration project for Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI) across HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis programs. PDPH established a formal PCSI Initiative in May 2008, prior to being funded. Upon receipt of CDC funding, PDPH sought to further formalize and expand the local PCSI Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To further formalize the PDPH PCSI Initiative in order to create a sustainable environment for programs to be able to address opportunities for collaboration. To develop tools and strategies that can assist in maintaining a PCSI initiative, which can be replicated in other health departments.

METHODS: The PCSI Initiative was further formalized through the addition of dedicated PCSI staff to work across programs and the development of specific tools, including a formal assessment of PCSI status and a PCSI Workplan. Additional changes including a set calendar for PCSI Workgroup meetings and involvement of PCSI staff in community level workgroups have further formalized the initiative.

RESULTS: Further formalization of the PCSI Initiative in the first year of funding has lead to a more structured environment for collaborative initiatives to take place. Dedicated staff and comprehensive plans for integration have increased the capacity for collaborative work.

CONCLUSION: Building PCSI into a local health department increases opportunities to discuss and plan for new initiatives and issues across programs.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Program planning
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Explain methods for formalizing an internal health department workgroup on Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI). Describe the process of creating and conducting a formal assessment for program integration status. Describe the process of developing a PCSI Workplan from information collected through a PCSI assessment. Identify community level workgroups and partners relevant to PCSI.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am the Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI) Coordinator at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). As PCSI Coordinator I am responsible for leading and coordinating our local PCSI Initiative and PCSI Workgroup which involves our HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Programs. I am also responsible for developing best practices around PCSI and planning for PCSI implementation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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