1 / 11

Beyond the Pouch: DIS in the 21 st Century

Beyond the Pouch: DIS in the 21 st Century. Dawn Broussard, MPH Sr. Public Health Advisor Chicago Department of Public Health STD/HIV Prevention and Care Program. DIS Roles Defined ~ mid-1960’s.

nasnan
Download Presentation

Beyond the Pouch: DIS in the 21 st Century

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Beyond the Pouch:DIS in the 21st Century Dawn Broussard, MPH Sr. Public Health Advisor Chicago Department of Public Health STD/HIV Prevention and Care Program

  2. DIS Roles Defined ~ mid-1960’s • “A new public health professional, the venereal disease investigator, was introduced in the 1940’s. These investigators, in interviewing venereal disease patients, searched out the many sex contacts of each known infection back to the incubation period”.

  3. Oh, the places you’ll go… • Public and Private Hospitals • Corrections • Drug Treatment • Adolescent Programming • Outreach • Bioterrorism/Emergency Efforts • Other HD units

  4. On-site surveillance STD infection control Case management Formal and informal training of staff Interpret results and recommend treatment HIV/Hepatitis counseling and testing Prevention education Health promotion Specimen collection Movement of individuals (corrections, drug treatment) Liaison between agency and HD Other duties as assigned… DIS Duties Revisited

  5. “Indigenous” DIS • Hired by agency • Trained by health department • Dual reporting to agency and HD supervisor • Same performance indicators as HD DIS • Participate in trainings, staff meetings and chalk talks

  6. Howard Brown Health Center • The Midwest’s largest LGBT health center • In 2003, reported 28% of MSM syphilis cases in Chicago • Approximately 7,500 clients annually

  7. Advantages to HD and Agency • Fewer restrictions on how, when and where they work • Financial savings • Indirect costs, fringe benefits may be less • Strengthens ties between HD and agency • Expands recruitment opportunities, career ladder for both sides

  8. Advantages • Better received by clients • Clinical and case management services in same location • Perceived as more empathetic, less judgmental • Not viewed as “government” interference in personal life • Providers encourage clients to see HBHC DIS • On-site referrals to social services

  9. A little bit of data…

  10. Conclusion • DIS are not relics from another era • “Indigenous” DIS can enhance program’s ability to reach specific target populations • DIS have a unique skill set that allows them to take on numerous roles • DIS continue to provide STD programs with the flexibility needed to respond to changing priorities

  11. AcknowledgementsAndrew DelicataJan HilandGus CondaLisa Varella For More Information: Dawn Broussard Phone: (312) 747-3447 Email: broussard_dawn@cdph.org

More Related