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Implementation and Process of a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative: Leveraging Health Professional Students to Extend the Workforce During a Pandemic.
Koetter, Paige; Pelton, Matthew; Gonzalo, Jed; Du, Ping; Exten, Cara; Bogale, Kaleb; Buzzelli, Lindsay; Connolly, Mary; Edel, Katelyn; Hoffman, Amy; Legro, Nicole R; Medina, Daniela; Sood, Natasha; Blaker, Joshua; Kearcher, Kalen; Sciamanna, Christopher.
  • Koetter P; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA. Electronic address: pkoetter@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
  • Pelton M; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Gonzalo J; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Du P; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Exten C; College of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
  • Bogale K; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Buzzelli L; Penn State College of Medicine, University Park Regional Campus, State College, PA.
  • Connolly M; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Edel K; Penn State College of Medicine, University Park Regional Campus, State College, PA.
  • Hoffman A; Penn State College of Medicine, University Park Regional Campus, State College, PA.
  • Legro NR; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Medina D; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Sood N; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Blaker J; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Kearcher K; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
  • Sciamanna C; Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
Am J Infect Control ; 48(12): 1451-1456, 2020 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-712425
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends aggressive contact tracing to control the COVID-19 pandemic. In this work, we (1) describe the development of a COVID-19 contact tracing initiative that includes medical, nursing, and public health students, and is led by clinicians and infectious disease epidemiologists within our health system, and, (2) articulate process steps for contact tracing including workflows and telephone scripts, and, (3) highlight the key challenges and strategies to overcome these challenges.

METHODS:

A single academic institution-based contact tracing initiative was rapidly scaled to 110 health professional students, four physicians, two epidemiologists, and a research team. Following training, students called patients who were COVID-19 positive and the individuals they were in contact with to ensure proper isolation and quarantine measures. Students also assisted those who faced barriers to quarantine. IMPLICATIONS In total, between March 24 and May 28 - this initiative completed contact tracing for 536 confirmed cases, which resulted in the identification of 953 contacts. We aim to disseminate this process, including telephone scripts and workflow, to other health systems for use in their initiatives to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Students, Health Occupations / Contact Tracing / Emergency Responders / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Young adult Language: English Journal: Am J Infect Control Year: 2020 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Students, Health Occupations / Contact Tracing / Emergency Responders / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Young adult Language: English Journal: Am J Infect Control Year: 2020 Document Type: Article