Please provide a brief description of the intervention (with name, if possible).
We convened a congenital syphilis case review board consisting of state STD staff and local staff in the areas experiencing the highest burden of CS. The DIS/public health nurse in charge of the investigation presents all relevant demographic, clinical, and surveillance data for a recent case. The aim of these reviews is to focus on identifying missed opportunities for prevention and strategizing potential interventions.
Who was/is involved in implementing the intervention (e.g., staff titles, partner organizations, etc.)?
Oregon Health Authority STD Program staff including STD Epidemiologist, STD/HIV Prevention Nurse Consultant, and HIV/STD/TB Medical Director. Local health department DIS/public health nurses in four counties. Higher-level local staff, including program managers and medical directors/health officers, would have been invited to participate if not deployed to COVID.
If other, please describe.
Cases that met the CS surveillance definition are eligible for review by state and local health department staff
What were/are the primary objectives/goals of this intervention?
The goals of CS case review board meetings are to assess key elements in congenital syphilis prevention using case summaries consisting of medical chart data, surveillance data, and maternal interviews; to describe missed opportunities for disease intervention or barriers to care; and to identify possible action items to effect systems-level change.
What else would you recommend or advise to other counties considering this intervention/activity?
Attend other state's congenital review board meetings to better understand the process and refine expectations. Bring as many different roles to the table (administrators, clinicians, related programs such as Maternal and Child Health program staff and harm reduction staff) as possible. Don't start to convene a CS case review board immediately before a pandemic hits.