DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEOMIOLOGY PAPER

Helpful Resources

A Primer for Lone Ranger Epidemiologist in Texas Counties

DSHS Reporting Forms: www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/investigation/forms/

 Guidelines for Investigation & Control of Invasive, Respiratory, Foodborne, and Vaccine‐Preventable Diseases: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/IDCU/health/infection_control/Investigation‐Guidance/

 VPD Investigation Forms: www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/vaccine_preventable_diseases/forms/

 Other Investigation Forms: www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/investigation/#

 Notifiable Conditions List: www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/investigation/conditions/

 Epi Case Criteria Guide (Rev 2015):

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=8589995012

 Laboratory Submission Guide: www.dshs.state.tx.us/lab/MRS_labtests_toc.shtm

NORS Outbreak Reporting Form: http://www.cdc.gov/nors/forms.html

 CDC Legionellosis Hypothesis‐Generating Form:

http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/downloads/hypothesis‐generating‐questionnaire.pdf

 CDC Environmental Assessment Form:

http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/downloads/environ‐assess‐instrument.pdf

 Texas Influenza Surveillance Handbook:

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=8589946469

 Vaccine Information Sheets: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/literature/litlist.shtm

 Communicable Disease Chart and Notes for Schools and Child‐Care Centers (Stock #6‐30)

CDC Vaccines and Preventable Diseases: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd‐vac/default.htm

 Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/survmanual/index.html

 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): www.cdc.gov/mmwr/

 Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Disease (Pink Book):

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html

 Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Influenza Prevention and Control Recommendations: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/index.htm

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pneumococcal Disease information:

http://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/clinicians/clinical‐features.html

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Group A Streptococcal Disease (GAS) information:

http://www.cdc.gov/groupAstrep/resources.html

Local Mental Health Authorities ‐ http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhcommunity/LPND/LMHAs/

Emergency Preparedness and Response ‐ http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/commprep/about.aspx

Public Health Emergency Preparedness Branch ‐ http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/commprep/phep/program/

Performance Standards:

· Healthy People 2020 Goals

· Ten Essential Public Health Services

· CDC Environmental Public Health Performance Standards

· Public Health Accreditation Board

· County Health and Rankings ‐ http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app#/home

Data systems, Software, and Organizations

· Public Health Information Network ‐ https://www.txphin.org/sign_in

· LabWare ‐ https://results‐web.dshs.state.tx.us:8443/index.jsp

· CIDRAP ‐ http://www.cidrap.umn.edu

· EpiX ‐ http://www.cdc.gov/epix

· ProMed ‐ http://www.promedmail.org/

· APIC ‐ https://apic.org/Member‐Services/Join

· Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA) ‐ http://www.myteha.org/Home

· Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) https://www.texaspha.org/

· Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists https://www.cste.org

· National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

· Dallas County Public Health Advisory Board (quarterly meetings)

Local health departments play a central role in providing essential public health services in communities that fall into the following ten categories:

1. Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems.

2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.

3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.

4. Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems.

5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.

6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.

7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of healthcare when otherwise unavailable.

8. Assure competent public and personal healthcare workforce.

9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.

10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.

http://www.phf.org/corecompetencies