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Program Operations Guidelines for STD Prevention
Overview

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Partner Services Recommendations

INTRODUCTION (PS-1)

• Programs should establish the mix of partner services that is appropriate to local epidemiology.
• Programs should prioritize patients for partner services in terms of specific diseases, local area data, the potential for productive intervention, case load, and available resources.
• Programs must ensure that DIS and managers possess the tools, training, and resources necessary to conduct program business successfully.
• Programs must have some form of case management process in place. Case management "tools" should reflect established information needs, should be easy to complete, and should provide information that can be used to define at-risk populations and to target them for intervention.
• Programs should provide interview space that is quiet and confidential, and contains at least a desk or table, three chairs, a telephone, and educational materials needed by the DIS.
• Programs must have written safety guidelines and procedures in place and follow these policies.
• Programs must ensure that DIS are aware of and comply with safety guidelines.

PARTNER SERVICES (PS-5)

• Interviews with patients about partner services should be planned, client-centered, culturally appropriate, and voluntary.
• Anyone reasonably believed to have been exposed to a STD should be treated prophylatically at the time of exam based on CDC treatment guidelines.
• Documentation of partner services must be systematic, confidential, and regularly reviewed by the next level of supervision.
• Partner services should be delivered in one of three ways: provider referral, patient referral, or contract referral.
• Partner services should be one of a number of public health strategies, including accessible clinics, outreach, and targeted screening of at risk populations.
• Programs should have the capacity to deliver services such as counseling, testing, and treatment, as well as referral for other services (e.g., family planning, drug treatment, social support, and housing).

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS (PS-20)

• Programs should implement a protocol for collaboration with non-health department care providers within their own area and with STD programs in other jurisdictions.
• Programs should implement a protocol for identifying and developing a case management plan for patients with repeat infections.

EVALUATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (PS-20)

• Supervisors should regularly observe and document individual DIS in the performance of their day-to-day activities and should be willing and able to demonstrate appropriate skills and behaviors.
• Supervisors should conduct sessions that facilitate DIS discussion of case management efforts and provide opportunity for input from others.
• Programs should routinely monitor partner services to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of services.
• Trends in disease found through evaluating partners should be used to monitor disease transmission and to increase program awareness regarding potential outbreaks.
• At a minimum, programs should analyze partners who are positive by residence (zip code, address). If resources permit, programs should also analyze location, demographics, and risk behaviors of partners and should compare positive (including previously treated partners) with negative partners to see what, if any, factors predict positive partners.
• Programs must have a means of regularly evaluating the effectiveness of partner services by time period and disease.
• Programs should develop the capacity to evaluate the effectiveness of the partner services by other locally set criteria to improve services and target them better.

COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH (PS-23)

• Programs should establish strategies for finding at risk persons not identified by an infected index case or partner.
• Programs should evaluate or assess the social networks that influence disease transmission in their area.
• Programs should target screening based upon program morbidity data, including information on core transmission groups.
• Programs should use information from social network analysis, if available, to assist in targeting both field and clinic screening efforts.
• Programs should build partnerships with people affected by sexually transmitted diseases to increase trust and to facilitate partner services and other interventions.
• Programs should assess which diseases are being transmitted within their jurisdiction and how, including partner selection patterns and other risk factors for infection.

PARTNER SERVICES APPENDICES

PS-A INTERVIEW PERIODS BY DISEASE (PS-29)

PS-B ORIGINAL INTERVIEW FORMAT (PS-30)

PS-C REINTERVIEW FORMAT (PS-32)

PS-D CLUSTER INTERVIEW FORMAT (PS-33)

PS-E LOT SYSTEM FORMS (PS-35)

PS-F FIELD INVESTIGATIONS (PS-46)

PS-G INTERSTATE TRANSMISSION OF STD

INTERVENTION INFORMATION (PS-49)

PS-H SKILLS INVENTORY (PS-53)

PS-I EVALUATION TABLES (PS-62)

PS-J GLOSSARY OF TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH

PARTNER SERVICES (PS-63)

PS-K TOOLS FOR NETWORK ANALYSIS (PS-66)

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