scholarly journals Epidemiological Effectiveness and Cost of a Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Response in New River Valley, Virginia: Local Health Department and Clinical Perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
Nargesalsadat Dorratoltaj ◽  
Margaret L. O’Dell ◽  
Paige Bordwine ◽  
Thomas M. Kerkering ◽  
Kerry J. Redican ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
The United States ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Fungal Meningitis ◽  
Life Years

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated the effectiveness and cost of a fungal meningitis outbreak response in the New River Valley of Virginia during 2012-2013 from the perspective of the local public health department and clinical facilities. The fungal meningitis outbreak affected 23 states in the United States with 751 cases and 64 deaths in 20 states; there were 56 cases and 5 deaths in Virginia.MethodsWe conducted a partial economic evaluation of the fungal meningitis outbreak response in New River Valley. We collected costs associated with the local health department and clinical facilities in the outbreak response and estimated the epidemiological effectiveness by using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted.ResultsWe estimated the epidemiological effectiveness of this outbreak response to be 153 DALYs averted among the patients, and the costs incurred by the local health department and clinical facilities to be $30,413 and $39,580, respectively.ConclusionsWe estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $198 per DALY averted and $258 per DALY averted from the local health department and clinical perspectives, respectively, thereby assisting in impact evaluation of the outbreak response by the local health department and clinical facilities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:38–46)

scholarly journals Participation in local health department investigations by public health student teams.

1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 717-717
Author(s):  
H S Teitelbaum ◽  
J McLaughlin ◽  
L Barnaby ◽  
A Paskilas ◽  
S Helgerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Student Teams

scholarly journals An Approach to Developing Local Climate Change Environmental Public Health Indicators in a Rural District

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adele Houghton ◽  
Jessica Austin ◽  
Abby Beerman ◽  
Clayton Horton
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Environmental Public Health ◽  
Vulnerability Indicators ◽  
Public Health Indicators ◽  
Climate And Health

Climate change represents a significant and growing threat to population health. Rural areas face unique challenges, such as high rates of vulnerable populations; economic uncertainty due to their reliance on industries that are vulnerable to climate change; less resilient infrastructure; and lower levels of access to community and emergency services than urban areas. This article fills a gap in public health practice by developing climate and health environmental public health indicators for a local public health department in a rural area. We adapted the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network’s framework for climate and health indicators to a seven-county health department in Western Kentucky. Using a three-step review process, we identified primary climate-related environmental public health hazards for the region (extreme heat, drought, and flooding) and a suite of related exposure, health outcome, population vulnerability, and environmental vulnerability indicators. Indicators that performed more poorly at the county level than at the state and national level were defined as “high vulnerability.” Six to eight high vulnerability indicators were identified for each county. The local health department plans to use the results to enhance three key areas of existing services: epidemiology, public health preparedness, and community health assessment.

scholarly journals Are Public Health Organizations Tweeting to the Choir? Understanding Local Health Department Twitter Followership

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenine K Harris ◽  
Bechara Choucair ◽  
Ryan C Maier ◽  
Nina Jolani ◽  
Jay M Bernhardt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Organizations ◽  
Public Health Organizations

Leveraging Limited Resources Through Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing: Influences on Breastfeeding Rates

2020 ◽  
pp. 089033442096363
Author(s):  
M. Elizabeth Gyllstrom ◽  
Marcia Burton McCoy ◽  
Gianfranco Pezzini ◽  
Adam Atherly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Relative Rate ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Breastfeeding Initiation ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Health Boards

Background Cross-jurisdictional sharing is gaining traction as an option for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public health services in local health departments. Research aim Assess whether breastfeeding initiation among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children changed with the addition of a trained breastfeeding specialist funded by cross-jurisdictional integration. Methods A longitudinal retrospective comparative difference in difference design using state-based program data, pre- and post-integration was undertaken. Three local county health departments ( n = 5) that fully integrated into one Community Health Board during January 2015, and four neighboring Community Health Boards ( n = 4) that did not integrate, were included. Results Controlling for confounders and interactions, the relative rate of change over time in breastfeeding initiation rates was greater in the integrated jurisdiction than neighboring Community Health Boards, but not statistically significant. When the integrated Community Health Board’s original three local health departments were considered separately, the relative rate of change over time in breastfeeding rates was greater for one local health department in comparison to three neighbor Community Health Boards ( p = .037, .048, and .034, respectively). Conclusions The addition of a specialized breastfeeding nutritionist led to improved breastfeeding initiation rates. The increase was significant only in the largest original local health department, which also had the lowest breastfeeding initiation rate pre-merger. The greatest positive change was seen in this local health department where the specialist staff was physically located. Public health staff specialization can lead to increases in economic efficiency and in improved delivery of public health services.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Local Health Department Consolidation on Public Health Expenditures: Evidence From Ohio

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (S2) ◽  
pp. S174-S180 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hoornbeek ◽  
Michael E. Morris ◽  
Matthew Stefanak ◽  
Joshua Filla ◽  
Rohit Prodhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Expenditures ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Expenditures
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