Communication, Communication, Disease Reporting Disease Reporting and Collaborationand Collaboration

Brigid O’Connor

Lake County Health DepartmentFlathead Reservation and Lake County

TERC/LEPC

Lake County: Who we areLake County: Who we are

26,000 residents 25% Native American (approximately) 80% rural population

“Open Reservation” Polson with 4,041 residents—largest community Salish Kootenai College Largest Employers:

1: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

2: Lake County

Lake County, MontanaLake County, Montana

Tribal Areas in Lake CountyTribal Areas in Lake County

Internal: Develop a comprehensive Communicable Disease program in the Lake County Health Department

External: Partner PH with local disaster responders through the TERC/LEPC Create/foster regional PH connections.

GoalsGoals

Develop Communicable Disease Position Develop Communicable Disease Position within Health Departmentwithin Health Department Part time position to be primary CD contact for

Health Dept. and PH Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Improve communication between HD and local medical providers

Build on the current team-work between LCHD and Tribal Health

QuestionQuestion

Does your Health Department have a Communicable Disease position supported by local funding?

A. Totally funded

B. More than 50% local funding

C. Less than 50% local funding

D. No local funding

Improve Communication Between HD Improve Communication Between HD and Local Medical Providersand Local Medical Providers Develop relationship between

providers and HD

Offer useable information to them regularly

Expect information from them

ProvidersProvidersHDHD

Be a conduit for info from other sources directly to providers

Identify how to best get infoto the NURSES!

TERC/LEPCTERC/LEPC TERC began in 1990

1995 TERC/LEPC meeting monthly

Spring 1996 Epi-Team created

Autumn 2001 Health Subgroup of the TERC/LEPC born

Early autumn 2002 CDC Emerg. Prep. Grants

Late autumn 2002 Health Subgroup expanded

Tribal/County Charter

Strengthen Regional CommunicationStrengthen Regional Communication

Send Communicable Disease notes to both providers and neighboring Health Departments

Coordinate on significant press releases

Collaborate on deliverables

Share plans and templates

ChallengesChallenges

Policy issues

Jurisdictional issues

Meshing DES and PH

SuccessesSuccesses

Strengthened coordination between LCHD and THHS

Established valued advisory group—Health Subgroup of the TERC/LEPC

Managed Communicable Disease events as a team

Assured a Public Health position in the TERC/LEPC Charter One joint PHERP

One DES Response Plan