TEC News

TEC News

Surveillance Methods Used to Detect, Characterize, and Monitor the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rocky Mountain Tribal Communities

TEC News, TECs in the Media
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Sage Journals

Data were essential to public health decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet no single data source was adequate for tribes in Montana and Wyoming. We outlined data access, availability, and limitations for COVID-19 pandemic surveillance response to improve future data exchange.

Erin Dobrinen, MS, MAS, Lea Moser, MPH, David White, MPH, Sulaiman Alquwayfili, MPH, Dyani Bingham, MPH, Helen Tesfai, MPH
July 18, 2023

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Multipathogen Outbreak of Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens Among Hospital Workers in Alaska, August 2021

TEC News, TECs in the Media
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Sage Journals

Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus are common causes of reported foodborne illness. On August 6, 2021, the Alaska Division of Public Health identified a multipathogen gastrointestinal outbreak among hospital staff in Homer, Alaska. The objectives of this study were to identify the outbreak source and prevent future illness.

Katherine Newell, DPhil, MPH, Kathryn Helfrich, MSN, MPH, Heidi Isernhagen, BA, Martin Jones, BS, Gabriela Stickel, MS, Haley McKeel, BS, Louisa Castrodale, DVM, MPH, Joseph McLaughlin, MD, MPH
May 13, 2023

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TEC Success Story: Tribal Epidemiology Centers 101

Success Stories, TEC News
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Presentation and Q&A Session with Dr. Kevin English, Director of the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center.

Culminating a year of planning and presentations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) Tribal Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) Data Subcommittee, Dr. Kevin English, Director of the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, presented “Tribal Epidemiology Centers 101” at the March 15, 2023 CMS TTAG meeting. The full TTAG is comprised of members representing each of the 12 geographic areas of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the three national Indian organizations. The TTAG provides advice and input to CMS on policy and program issues impacting American Indians and Alaska Native people served by CMS programs.

In his presentation, Dr. English shared the mission and goals of the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers and the work they do at the request of, and in partnership with the Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and their communities. In total, about 50 TTAG committee members and other partners joined for the presentation and a robust Q&A discussion. Presentations to groups like the CMS TTAG are crucial for building awareness about the scope of services the TECs can provide. These activities were supported through a variety funding opportunities including the coordination and collaboration activities made possible by the Tribal Epidemiology Centers Public Health Infrastructure program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease and Prevention and Health Promotion, Healthy Tribes Program.

 

Tribal Epidemiology Centers 101

 


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For more information about each of the 12 TECs, visit https://tribalepicenters.org/12-tecs/.

 

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ITCA-TEC Success Story: Regional Community Health Profile

Success Stories, TEC News
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One major project the ITCA TEC was able to complete was the Regional Community Health Profile (CHP). Additionally, increased training in statistical analysis along with enhanced coding software has allowed the TECPHI team an avenue to improve systems and efficiency in developing reports resulting in 43 Tribal-specific CHPS.

Using SAS software, the Tribal reports were all automated. While there is work to be done in terms of customization for each Tribe, formatting, and additional statistical analysis along with current counts, the TEC has made strides in being able to provide better information to those we serve. This is also impacted by the partnerships the TEC has been able to build and maintain and strong relationships with the Arizona, Nevada, and Utah health departments have allowed us to access updated data each year.

Over the last year the TEC has been able to update overall IHS data and get updated COVID information to be used in the future. In general, access to data has been greatly improved and will allow ITCA to provide more timely and relevant information to those in our service area.

 

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