Expanding and Improving STD Services during Resource Limited Times Heather James STD Field Services Supervisor Maricopa County STD Program

Four Expanded Services Express STD Visits Expedited Partner Therapy Embedded CDIs in HIV Clinics for partner interviews Hepatitis B Vaccination in STD Clinic

Express STD Visits STD visits without a medical provider, physical examination or interview Test only visit includes: –Syphilis serology –HIV test –Combined chlamydia and gonorrhea urine test

ET Risk Factor Screening Answering Yes to the following risk factors disqualifies the patient for ET: –Are you experiencing symptoms? –Did someone tell you to come here? –Have you traded sex for drugs or money? –Are you pregnant? –Have you engaged in receptive anal sex in last 3 months? –Have you recently been sexually assaulted?

STD Screening Triage Assessment FormFrequently Asked Question Form ET Risk Factor Screening

Express STD Visits Since September of 2008, 2,464 patients have been tested through ET visits Approximately 14% of STD clinic attendees are channeled through ET Run by CDI; 2 per clinic Follow-up results given per regular clinic protocols No treatment provided at ET

STD Clinic Attendance January – July 2009

STD Express Testing Clients Tested / Cases

Benefits Shorter wait times (average 1 hour shorter) Increased number of patients seen during working hours Projected increase in revenue as Express patients pay same fees ($20) Many patients prefer this option to seeing a provider

Potential Drawbacks Fewer patients receive presumptive treatment thus, Possible treatment delays (not yet evaluated) Requires additional CDIs in clinic Some clinic flow changes necessary

Expedited Partner Therapy AZ State Statute ( ) allows for treatment of contacts of infectious diseases without a medical exam Protocols developed for Maricopa County STD Program Implemented June 2009

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) EPT protocol summary –Patients receive diagnosis and treatment for Chlamydia and/or gonorrhea –Patients receive a prescription(s) from the provider to fill at the Maricopa County pharmacy (adjacent to clinic) for partner medication –Patients receive information to give to partner about the medication –Partners are encouraged to seek care for testing

Results Since June 2009, 15 prescriptions have been filled at the Maricopa County pharmacy for EPT –11 for azithromycin –4 for cefixime EPT Protocol has been shared with MIHS clinics

EPT Benefits Patient delivers medication to partner Reduced re-infection rates Reduced number of untreated partners (frequently male partners) Reduces need to track partners for clinic referral for testing and treatment Medication cost to patient for partner treatment –$7.75 for 1 gram of azithromycin –$9.94 for 400mg of cefixime

EPT Potential Drawbacks Partners do not receive testing Small risk of adverse reaction to medication though written and verbal information provided through pharmacy

Embedded CDIs in HIV Clinics Rationale –70% of Maricopa P and S cases are MSM –Approximately 50% are HIV infected –Top 3 syphilis reporting providers for were HIV clinics Spectrum McDowell Pueblo Family

Implementation In early 2008, 2 CDIs identified to work ½ day/week in two clinics and 1 CDI identified to be on call in one clinic CDIs deliver penicillin to 2 of 3 clinics CDIs perform partner elicitation in the clinic following provider evaluation

Evaluated Improvements Improved time to interview Higher number of completed interviews Higher number of partners initiated Fewer field attempts to locate partners Higher number of partners brought to treatment Visibility of public health in private offices

Administration of HBV Vaccine in Maricopa STD Clinic Rationale –Hepatitis B is an STD –Preventable with vaccination (3 shot series) –Highest risk population attending STD clinics –Physical proximity to Immunization Clinic Staff sharing Education/administration by immunization staff

Implementation Staff member from Immunization Clinic solicits potential vaccinees from the STD waiting area First shot of series administered in STD Clinic by Immunization staff Patient receives follow-up dates for remaining 2 injections Follow-up 2 injections administered at the Immunization Clinic

Summary These four services have expanded care through the Maricopa STD Clinic Protocols available for other programs Site visits welcome

Contact Information Heather James Questions?