![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Pre-Function Lobby & Grand Ballroom D2/E (M4) (Omni Hotel)
Background:
Wyoming presents unique issues relating to access of care for STD treatment due to its rural/frontier nature. Patients and partners of STD positive patients often drive to nearby communities or wait weeks for a traveling clinic to obtain testing and/or treatment. The incidence of Chlamydia in the state of Wyoming continues to grow each year with 1,207 in 2007; 1,577 in 2008, and a projected 1,900 by year-end in 2009. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) Communicable Disease (CD) Program began working with Title X clinics to resolve some barriers to testing/treatment of patients and their partners in 2008. Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) quickly became a focus for the Program.Objectives:
To present and describe the process of implementing EPT as well as the data relating to ‘preventively treated partners’ pre and post EPT Program rollout.Methods:
In December 2007, the Program, in collaboration with Title X clinics, began implementing the EPT Program. Data were collected on the number of EPT packets distributed to clinics and the number of cases dispositioned as ‘A-preventive treatment’.Results:
From January to September 2009, 311 Chlamydia and 16 gonorrhea EPT packets were dispensed to clinics from the Program. From January to June 2008, 119 cases were dispositioned as ‘A’ as compared to January to June 2009 with 221 dispositioned as ‘A’.Conclusions:
The development of the EPT Program has helped to offer additional treatment options to clinics and partners that may not have access to care. Initial data indicates the EPT Program has also increased awareness among community providers regarding partner services and male testing. Male screening numbers have increased 51% in the last year.Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research:
In order to expand awareness of preventive treatment options for private providers and community clinics, the Program will continue to promote EPT treatment options as well as partner services and male testing services.