Dr. Menachemi Provides Opportunities Created by COVID-19 in Keynote Manuscript for Riley Hospital Surgical Day

Posted on June 19, 2020 by amanbrig

Dr. Nir Menachemi was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Riley Hospital Surgical Research Day. Given the pandemic, Dr. Menachemi was invited to be senior author on a keynote manuscript for the abstract book of research that was created in lieu of the in-person conference. The article he coauthored was: “THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC – AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW,”

While the pandemic has placed an unexpected burden on our health care system, it may serve as a catalyst for disruption. Dr. Menachemi shares: “It is essential that we view the current coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to improve for ourselves, our society, and our health care system. Now is the time to put our differences aside, fight a common enemy, expand the use of cost-efficient technologies, strengthen the public health infrastructure, embrace population health management, and promote the development of additional physician leaders that can work with others to tackle our generation’s greatest challenges.”

Read Dr. Menachemi’s keynote message and more from the 2020 Riley Surgical Research Day Abstract Book.

Improving Disease Case Reporting Through Electronic Information Exchange

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

Dr. Brian Dixon, Director of Public Health Informatics

By Adrianne Robertson

A new study led by Dr. Brian Dixon, associate professor and director of public health informatics at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, found that outbreak detection and disease control may be improved by simplified, semi-automated reporting of notifiable diseases to public health authorities (PHA).

The objective of the study was to determine if electronic, pre-populated notifiable disease report forms would have an impact on case reporting rates, the completeness of data in submitted case reports, and the timeliness of case reports by ambulatory care clinics to a PHA – making this the first trial of its kind.

Researchers conducted a two-year, controlled before-and-after trial of a health information exchange (HIE) intervention in Indiana designed to pre-populate notifiable disease reporting forms to providers.

They analyzed data collected from electronic pre-populated reports and “usual care” (paper, fax) reports submitted to a local health department for seven conditions by using a difference-in-differences model. The seven conditions consisted of diseases commonly investigated by local PHA staff members in Indiana — chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, histoplasmosis, salmonellosis, and syphilis. As in most states, providers and laboratories in Indiana are required to report each notifiable disease case they encounter.

Results from the study show that the pre-populated forms, integrated into providers’ workflow and enabled by a health information exchange (HIE) network, not only had a meaningful impact on reporting rates and completeness, but also minimized provider burden. From the participating clinics, 75% of submitted reports were the pre-populated forms generated by the intervention, demonstrating clinics are willing to use the tool to improve their reporting of notifiable conditions.

Having complete, timely information is critical to the work of public health. Identifying and correcting incomplete information can lead to time-consuming and complex medical records review processes that are burdensome and costly for both clinical and public health organizations. Better integration of clinical and public health information systems help to refine technical and workflow processes that can ultimately make public health surveillance more efficient.

The study was conducted in partnership with the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE), non-profit community partners that regularly work with faculty at the Fairbanks School of Public Health. Regenstrief is a local, national and global leader in health services research dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. The Indiana Health Information Exchange is a community-based organization that enables hospitals, physicians, laboratories, payers, and other health service providers to avoid redundancy and deliver faster, more efficient, higher quality healthcare to patients in Indiana.

The full study, “Improving Notifiable Disease Case Reporting Through Electronic Information Exchange–Facilitated Decision Support: A Controlled Before-and-After Trial,” is published in the May/June issue of Public Health Reports.

From Undecided Major to Community Health Alumna: Luz Machuca Shares Her Story

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

Luz Machuca, 2019 BSPH Alumna

By Adrianne Robertson

During the summer following her freshman year at IUPUI, Luz Machuca traveled abroad to Salamanca, Spain for six weeks. There, she met Haley, a student enrolled at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health who was majoring in community health. After talking with her new friend, Luz wanted to learn more.

“She gave me a brief overview of community health that made me investigate and do my own research,” Luz said. “I loved that community health was such a broad field and you could take different paths in the actual job/career you decided upon. It was not a cookie cutter major.”

When Luz returned to the states, she went to talk with Leah, an undergraduate academic advisor at the Fairbanks School of Public Health, and she enrolled as a pre-community health major.

“After a few classes, I knew I was on the right career path – although my friends and family did not really understand what I was going to be doing after college,” said Luz, who said finding the right major was not easy.

“Being a first-generation student who grew up on the east side of Indianapolis, and attended IPS schools, I was not really exposed to the number of careers out there or majors that I could major in. I knew about the common career choices like nursing, dentistry, law, and business, but I had never heard about community health or public health Feeling overwhelmed, lost, and confused on what to major in, I entered IUPUI as an undecided major.”

While at IUPUI, Luz took advantage of many experiential opportunities. She traveled abroad twice, both to Spain and Nicaragua, where she was able to develop her Spanish fluency and interact with people of different cultural backgrounds. She also participated in a spring break alternative trip that IUPUI offers, during which she learned how to live without a cellphone or running water for a week.

During one spring break, she took a three-day cultural tour in Cincinnati, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan that was offered by the Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program, and TRIO Student Support Services Program at IUPUI.

“During this trip, I learned a lot more on how African-American slaves were brought against their will to this country and the horrible experiences they lived through during their voyage to the US, as well as their experiences once they arrived. This cultural tour offered me in-depth information about American history that is not thoroughly taught in school.

Luz was able to job shadow during her last year at Fairbanks, which led her to find a summer internship that would fulfill her last requirement for earning her bachelor’s degree in public health.

After graduating in 2019 with a BSPH in Community Health, she started a paid summer internship at the Youth Diabetes Prevention Clinic. In her new role, she assists with recruiting, planning, implementation, and evaluation of a new community diabetes prevention program. She also does data entry for participants and facilitates health education sessions.

“My degree is directly correlated with my current summer internship because I am evaluating, planning, and implementing an actual community health program for a priority population,” Luz said.

Luz is excited to start gaining experience in the field of public health. Her long-term career goal is to pursue a master’s degree in public health or business. She believes having a background in public health and earning a Master of Business Administration can make her more versatile and well-rounded.

“I like to go with the flow of life and see where it takes me, but I know that I will pursue higher education in the future.”

Contact Tracing Provides MPH Graduate With Public Health Experience

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

By Adrianne Robertson

During the day, 2019 MPH alumna Sonya Lawrence is a bailiff for Marshall Circuit Court in Marshall County, Indiana. Outside of the court, she serves in a different capacity, as a contact tracer at the Indiana State Department of Health. Her goal is to gain more public health experience.

Sonya Lawrence, MPH Alumna

“As a contract tracer, I call citizens who have tested positive for COVID-19, interview them in-depth, and notify their close contacts to tell them to quarantine for two weeks,” Lawrence said.

She has been a contact tracer for more than a month now, and hopes to continue helping communities in this capacity for as long as the need exists. What makes her so passionate about the position? Knowing she’s playing an integral part in the state’s response.

“The best part of the job is knowing that you are essential to alleviating the spread of this contagious virus,” she said. “The most challenging part can be gaining the trust of the citizen on behalf of the ISDH.”

Although challenging, Lawrence feels prepared for this new role. She believes the courses she took at the Fairbanks School of Public Health in social and behavioral health and ethics certainly apply to contact tracing.

“Social determinants of health – such as age, race, sex, occupation, and location – all have a bearing on an individual’s ability to slow the spread of the virus. And maintaining confidentially is key to any case.”

As soon as she began training, Lawrence said it didn’t take long to realize the number of collaborative efforts that have gone into this project. In many ways, being a contact tracer has opened her eyes to the possibilities within public health, and she sees the position as a great opportunity for recent public health graduates.

“Based on my experience, I would encourage students interested in public health to reach out to health departments and non-profit organizations to see how you can help make an impact on alleviating the spread of the virus,” Lawrence said.

“I would highly recommend anyone interested in public health to become a contact tracer as it provides entry level experience and shows initiative in the field.”

Learn more about the MPH program at FSPH, or share your COVID-19 efforts with us to be featured on the blog!

Has Data Prepared Indiana for a COVID-19 Resurgence?

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

Matt Browning, 2010 MHA Alumnus

By Crystal Jones

As the vice president of data and member solutions for the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), Matt Browning, MHA’10 has worked alongside Fairbanks School of Public Health faculty and alumni to help with the healthcare industry response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Browning utilizes the healthcare data and information available from IHA members and governmental agencies to serve as a strategic resource for Indiana Hospitals. The data helps organizations develop strategic plans, growth strategies, business plans, and emergency response plans.

As an alumnus and a healthcare leader, Browning is grateful for the relationship and support of the Fairbanks School of Public Health during this crisis.

“At one point, we had 70% of the state’s hospitals working with Fairbanks to receive hospital-specific forecasts related to the COVID-19 patient surge,” Browning said. “Fairbanks also supported us by educating our members on modeling; not only the Fairbanks model but the importance of looking at several models at one time.”

This personalized attention helped IHA members understand the recommendations being made based on the predictions from all the known data at the time. Data has informed Browning and the Indiana State Department of Health on decisions regarding the distribution of personal protective equipment and remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral medication used for the treatment of COVID-19.

As Indiana reopens and emerges from immediate crisis, Browning is encouraged by the learnings from March and April, specifically related to telemedicine.

“Telemedicine is a real alternative for primary care, and anyone who was a naysayer in the beginning and didn’t feel it provided value certainly sees the value now after COVID. However, we need to expand reimbursement related to telemedicine services.”

Additionally, Browning feels that Indiana is ready if the state experiences a COVID-19 resurgence in the fall. “We learned a lot from data about how hot spots and transmission occur. In the fall, we will use this data to help inform us on how to move forward if there is a resurgence. This data will help us make decisions in the future regarding elective surgeries and patient care.”

In the meantime, Browning encourages individuals who have delayed care to understand that it is safe to visit physicians and hospitals because delaying care is not healthy.

Learn more about the MHA program at FSPH, or share your COVID-19 efforts with us to be featured on the blog!

Discovering Emergency Preparedness as a Public Health Niche

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

By Crystal Jones

Emily Sargent, a 2018 JD-MPH alumna of IUPUI, discovered emergency preparedness as a career path years ago, and has since been preparing for a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emily Sargent, MPH-JD Alumna

Sargent is a member of the Division of Emergency Preparedness at the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). She is responsible for managing the public health emergency preparedness and response grants that Indiana receives from the federal government to support and fund Indiana’s emergency response capabilities. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sargent’s role on a day-to-day basis was to ensure that ISDH meets grant requirements to prepared for public health emergencies throughout the year. When the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, many of the ISDH team members supported by the grant funds were prepared to act quickly. Additional federal funding for the COVID-19 response has helped staff throughout ISDH transition into emergency roles.

Sargent encourages Fairbanks School of Public Health students, who are still looking for their niche in public health, to consider emergency preparedness. “It’s a niche area, and many individuals associate the response with epidemiologists, but we all work together,” she said. “The Division of Emergency Preparedness prepares for situations like COVID-19 all the time.”

Sargent started graduate school pursuing a career in health law, but health policy was also an area of interest for her.

“I decided to pursue my MPH alongside my JD to understand not only the policies but also the reasoning behind why we create the laws we do related to public health. But then I fell in love with public health.”

Sargent said her internship at the American Red Cross was the moment when she decided which career to pursue, as it was a pinnacle moment for her.

“It was when I knew I wanted to pursue an emergency preparedness career,” she said. “During my internship, I was deployed to West Virginia to assist with flood response. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to help individuals when they needed it most.”

Sargent encourages FSPH students to seek out public health positions related to the COVID-19 response because it is an incredible time for students to gain valuable public health skills. She also encourages the public to remain patient as Indiana reopens.

“We are all connected to each other. As individuals make decisions, it’s important to realize it’s not about the individual, it’s about how everybody affects each other and how we all have a part in somebody else’s health.”

Prepared for a Pandemic: Alumnus Reflects on His MHA Training

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

Bernard Niezer, MHA Alumnus

By Crystal Jones

As a practice manager for Northeast Indiana Urology in Fort Wayne, Barney Niezer, MHA’83 has never relied on the study skills he gained as a graduate student at Indiana University more than he does now.

“In graduate school, I learned to think critically, and I learned how to learn,” Nieser said. “Those skills help in a situation like this. It helps you evaluate the situation from a strategic standpoint, and understand how to do the different analyses and weigh options.”

Niezer said the number of resources available to him regarding COVID-19 can sometimes seem overwhelming and redundant. “I’ve noticed on the Fairbanks website the sources the school links to are all credible. They are well-known sources you can rely on. I hope students seek out those credible sources, but also seek the information which is most relevant for them. For instance, my professional specialty provides great information.”

Niezer credits the IU Master of Health Administration program for providing more than just study skills. “This pandemic has caused many of us to make many moral and ethical decisions. These decisions impact individual’s livelihoods. The IU MHA program is well-grounded in good moral and ethical judgment. I came away understanding that when you are managing a healthcare practice, it’s not about the all mighty dollar. My education helped me understand more than the financial side; it helped me understand how each decision impacts individuals.”

While COVID-19 has caused Barney’s job to become busier and more challenging, it has also reinforced his belief in building strong networks. “This pandemic is a unique situation that we have never dealt with before. We are spending our time learning from others to provide the best care we can.”

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a myriad of public health efforts that can easily go unnoticed. If you have volunteered, worked on a project, conducted research, or completed any unique effort related to COVID-19, and would like to share it with the Fairbanks School of Public Health, we would love to hear from you.

The impact you make goes far and can inspire others!

Alumni Spotlight: President of IU Health Blackford Hospital Shares His Story

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

By Amelia Hurt

Dave Hyatt, an alumnus of the Master of Health Administration program at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health was introduced to the hospital career world while in college through a summer job working on the loading dock at his hometown hospital. Since then, Hyatt has held a number of positions. Today, he is the president of Critical Access Hospitals for the East Central Region of IU Health which includes responsibility for IU Health Jay and Blackford Hospitals. As of June 1, Hyatt will serve as president of IU Health Blackford Hospital, and will also be responsible for the development of IU Health’s Rural Strategy.

“Every day is different in hospital administration, but one thing remains the same, working with amazing people who are all focused on improving the care we provide to our communities and improving the health of the communities,” Hyatt said.

He spends a lot of time working with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals looking at how to improve operations and allocate scarce resources in the best way possible to ensure they are able to fulfill their mission. “Healthcare is an extremely challenging industry to be in. We are constantly being asked to do more with less, we see people at their highest highs and their lowest lows, but every day you can find reward in that you’re always working to help people and improve your community.”

While at FSPH, Hyatt learned the importance of teamwork, mentors, and continuous learning. The network that he developed while at FSPH has been a huge asset to him during his career.

“To this day I am still in touch with many of my professors and classmates that I will reach out to for advice or guidance when I feel like I’ve reached a brick wall,” Hyatt said.

When asked about his favorite FSPH memory, Hyatt said it’s hard because his two years at FSPH were amazing and went by in a flash.

“The best memories that I have were the many around building relationships with my classmates and professors. Whether that was at a student association event with the Pacers or living at the library trying to help each other figure out those darn management science equations, they are all a part of what made the experience at FSPH great.”

Hyatt said he would give his college self the following advice, “Health care is a huge industry. Do not become too focused on one aspect or one area in which you think your passion lies. Take chances and risks. Be willing to move outside of your comfort zone and try new things. That is where opportunity lies. Never stop learning and learn to count on and rely on the expertise of your team. Healthcare is incredibly complex, and no one can do it alone.”

Reflecting on the most significant thing that’s happened since graduating, Hyatt reminds of us of what is truly important.

“My family! Since my time at FSPH, I’ve gotten married to my wonderful wife Tonya and have two amazing children, George (7) and Eliza (5). It has had not only an impact on me personally, but also professionally. As a parent, we have new expectations for our family and children.”

One of the things that has been a “true north” of sorts for Hyatt is when the team struggles with tough issues at the hospital. He always goes back to his mantra that if the care that his organization provides isn’t good enough for his family, then it isn’t good enough for anyone’s family.

“I can say that we’ve have had many trips to the emergency room, surgery department, and my daughter was born at IU Health Jay. I couldn’t be more proud of the care that our team provided to my family,” Hyatt said.

As for what the future holds, Hyatt said this is always a tough question, but he always wants to be learning and growing both personally and professionally. “I’m not sure where that will put me in 10 years – it might be right here. But I do know that I hope to always have the blessing to work with people who are passionate about what they do every day and share the same values of doing the best for our patients and the communities who count on us.”

At the Fairbanks School of Public Health, we remain committed to advancing the public’s health and well-being through education, innovation, and leadership. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact our nation, we will highlight the work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. If there is a story you would like to tell, please send that information to fsphinfo@iu.edu or complete this form.

DrPH Student Leads LifeSpring Health Systems’ COVID-19 Response

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

Beth Keeney, DrPH Student

By Amanda Briggs

Throughout January, DrPH student Beth Keeney kept an eye on the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. When she told her supervisor at LifeSpring Health Systems that community spread in the United States was likely, she was appointed chair of the company’s COVID-19 response.

“Once a case of community spread was announced on the west coast, we announced the formation of the response committee and began formally meeting,” said Keeney, senior vice president for community health initiatives and primary care at LifeSpring Health Systems.

Located across 11 counties in southern Indiana, LifeSpring provides comprehensive primary care, behavioral health care, and addiction treatment to more than 12,000 patients annually. Working with her team, Keeney has led the transition for LifeSpring to be fully responsive during this pandemic.

“Most importantly, all services are still operational, except for high risk services, such as group therapy,” she said. “We transitioned most of behavioral healthcare services to telehealth in less than a week.”

Keeney, and several others, also developed a seamless online enrollment and intake process in less than a week.

By facilitating discussions in the community and among service providers, Keeney helped to develop a plan to address health issues among individuals experiencing homelessness. She deployed a mobile unit for providing primary care services and to areas where individuals experiencing homelessness were camped. Additionally, Keeney worked with others to establish a plan for a seclusion shelter for homeless individuals.

As the state begins to reopen, Keeney, and several other key leaders, have developed a risk stratification for moving patients out of telehealth. They are also currently implementing the reintegration plan for services based on community epidemiological data and risk stratification of patients and staff.

Keeney also handles the influx of information from local, national and international agencies to develop operational policy and procedures. She has maintained consistent and daily communications to staff and board members.

“One of the things I have been most proud of is how effectively our team has functioned,” she said. “We started meeting twice weekly and communicating throughout the day. I have been working with information technology to maintain an intranet site to have a single place for relevant information. We have been able to rapidly receive information from health departments and then process and operationalize the information to inform our practices. I feel confident based on how well our team has functioned, if there are changes in epidemiological data or flare ups, we know what we have to do to handle changes in our practices.”

When access to personal protective equipment (PPE) dried up, Keeney worked to secure PPE and developed a plan to become self-sustainable with PPE. When the recommendations for cloth masks changed, within 24 hours Keeney’s team sourced almost 600 masks for staff and residents of the residential facilities, reducing the demand for procedure masks. Keeney’s team discovered how to safely sanitize procedure masks using an autoclaving process, and quickly ordered additional autoclaves.

“We are lucky to be located near the University of Louisville, which had a Batelle decontamination machine. They have assisted with N95 decontamination, reducing our need for additional PPE supply,” said Keeney.

Keeney credits her DrPH program with providing professional connections locally and globally who have helped inform her response.

“I have been able to access data, plans, and professionals I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. Timely and accurate information has been critical during this time. The DrPH in Global Health Leadership has provided me with a solid understanding of global health systems. Understanding why certain levers and policies may be utilized has been helpful in navigating the landscape around COVID-19.”

DrPH Adjunct Professor Shares Case Studies from Grenada’s COVID-19 Response

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Adrianne Robertson

By Amanda Briggs

After a recent deployment to Grenada, DrPH Professor Dr. E. Benjamín Puertas shared his lessons learned during COVID-19 through two case studies.

Working with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the specialized international health agency for the Americas, Dr. Puertas and his team reviewed the progress in implementation of Grenada’s national COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. They assessed hospital readiness for COVID-19 response; trained health care professionals on COVID-19 related surveillance, infection prevention control (IPC) and case management; and provided support to strengthen human resources for health staffing, mobility and scaling.

The team arrived the same day the Ministry of Health publicly announced the detection of the first COVID-19 case on the island.

The PAHO deployment team trained approximately 80 health care workers through face-to-face and virtual training in IPC and personal protective equipment (PPE) use. The training included practical demonstration on donning and duffing.

The Grenada Ministry of Health director of hospital services told the PAHO team that she was having issues with auxiliary staff cleaning the isolation unit, since they refused to enter the area for fear of getting infected with the coronavirus. The nurses who participated in the training took the initiative to do the cleaning themselves, since they felt assured that by following the protective measures the risk was minimal. This support and solidarity among health care workers allowed proper and continual functioning of an essential unit for COVID-19 response.

Dr. Benjamin Puertas — Dr. E. Benjamin Puertas, DrPH Adjunct Professor

Additionally, Dr. Puertas and his team worked with Grenada’s chief nursing officer to assess the risk of nurses from a country with a COVID-19 outbreak joining the ranks of local nurses. None of the nurses presented any signs or symptoms.

The PAHO team recommended applying World Health Organization’s assessment of risk exposure for health workers in health facilities and presented the main components to health authorities. The day after, the country applied the assessment to the nurses and found that the risk of exposure was either minimal or non-existent. The nurses were deployed to their units the same day.

These simple measures avoided decisions that affected the availability of much needed health care workers. The PAHO team also recommended national protocols for management of exposed health care workers are required.

You can learn more about Dr. Puertas’ and the PAHO team’s work on their COVID-19 Case Study page.