The Importance of Reporting Notifiable Conditions and
the Surveillance, Control and Prevention that Follows
Juan Rodriguez, MPH, Chief Epidemiologist
Denton County Health Department
Content:
1. Define Epidemiology
2. Surveillance and Disease reporting
3. Outbreak Investigations
4. Interviewing techniques
5. Outbreak Exercise
Objectives:
1. Describe the science of epidemiology and its application to public health
2. Evaluate the infection preventionist nursing role in public health surveillance and disease reporting
3. Discuss the components of a public health outbreak investigation
4. Apply the 10 steps of outbreak investigation in a public health case scenario
Presentation Review:
On June 4, 2015, Juan Rodriguez, MPH, Chief Epidemiologist, Denton County Health Department presented on, “The Importance of Reporting Notifiable Conditions and the Surveillance, Control and Prevention that Follows”. Mr. Rodriguez provided a brief overview of the science of epidemiology, the public health epidemiologists’ roles and responsibilities in disease control, outbreak investigations, monitoring trends and clusters, and how they utilize epi data minimize or eliminate the impact of diseases and other health conditions.
Next he discussed notifiable conditions as defined by the Texas Administrative Codes and delineated how any outbreak, exotic disease, or unusual group expression of illness which is a public health concern (whether or not the disease is listed), is required as defined by the Texas Health and Safety Codes and Title 25, Texas Administrative Codes to be reported. These conditions provide a link to surveillance data and public health practice, allowing individual/group interventions, investigations, control of outbreaks, and leading to the overall goal to reduce the morbidity and mortality through control and prevention of disease.
Once a public health outbreak has been reported, then a 10 stepOutbreak Investigation method is utilized and the data is analyzed, interpreted, control measures, are determined and a final report is communicated.
The presentation was well done, informative, and demonstrates how essential a collaborative relationship between infection preventionist and public health epidemiologist play to prevent and control communicable diseases.