Occupational exposures predispose health workers (HWs) to a risk of HIV infection. When
properly ... more Occupational exposures predispose health workers (HWs) to a risk of HIV infection. When properly used, HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can significantly reduce this risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent and types of occupational exposures, availability of PEP guidelines, and utilisation of PEP amongst HWs. A cross-sectional mixed methods baseline study was conducted between March and May 2014 using a structured questionnaire administered to 236 HWs from Shinyanga, Sengerema and Musoma hospitals in Tanzania. Relationships between variables were determined using the chi-square test. Qualitative data was gathered during interviews with key informants and walkthrough observations in the hospital wards, and analysed using the framework method. Majority of respondents were nurses (53%), over 40 years old (61%) with more than 20 years (40%) of hospital experience. Needle stick and sharp injuries were experienced by 31% of respondents whilst 26% experienced splashes. Only 28% of splashes were reported compared to 80% and 68% of needle sticks and sharp injuries, respectively. Those who experienced needle sticks were more likely to report the incident (p < 0.001), receive testing (p < 0.003) or PEP (p = 0.005). Although 66% reported the availability of PEP guidelines, only 39% of exposed HWs received PEP. Occupational exposures are common in these hospitals. HWs under-report and suboptimally use PEP services. Health worker safety programmes should establish functional systems for reporting and adherence to PEP procedures. Future research should establish factors that determine compliance with PEP procedures.
The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a network of seven public hospitals ... more The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a network of seven public hospitals and public health practitioners initiated in 2005 which includes the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSU HCSD), and the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Office of Public Health (OPH) HIV/AIDS Program (HAP), the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program, and TB Program and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI). LaPHIE partners have developed an innovative bi-directional electronic health information exchange supported by information sharing agreements, legal analysis, consumer acceptability research, and strong community relationships. The goal of the initiative is to improve timely diagnosis and treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and syphilis. LPHI has served as a neutral convener for LaPHIE since its inception. A neutral convener can also be referred to as a facilitator, intermediary, organizer, and/or pla...
The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange is a bi-directional electronic health informatio... more The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange is a bi-directional electronic health information exchange (HIE) which communicates sensitive health information between participating public hospitals on out of care persons with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and syphilis. Partners include the Louisiana State University public hospital system, the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health and the Louisiana Public Health Institute. With technical capabilities and local public health infrastructure facilitating public HIEs to improve timely diagnosis and treatment, the question for the LaPHIE Compliance and Ethics work group became, Public health information can be exchanged, but should it? Consumer input was elicited through focus groups and key informant interviews to understand consumer attitudes, and the acceptability of data sharing to intervene with patients unaware of their disease status or lost to care and in need of follow-up. With the National ...
Background: The Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSUHCSD) and the State ... more Background: The Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSUHCSD) and the State of Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH) have developed a secure bidirectional public health information exchange known as the Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE). Developed to facilitate linkage to care and treatment for individuals with HIV, tuberculosis, or syphilis, LaPHIE utilizes electronic messages posted in patients' electronic medical records in the LSU system to help ensure important public health follow-up activities occur. Objective/purpose: With the assistance of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, serving as a neutral convener, the partners collaboratively developed consensus on legal positions and ethical arguments in support of LaPHIE. Methods: The project team formed a Legal and Ethics workgroup tasked with a legal and ethics review. The workgroup completed an inventory and review of all related Federal and State legislation, discussed LaPHIE w...
Background: LA Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana State University - Health Care Servi... more Background: LA Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana State University - Health Care Services Division (HCSD) and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) have partnered to utilize health information exchange to improve treatment of STDs in Louisiana. Objective: Develop a system supporting the effective, rapid and secure exchange of pertinent health information between the public hospital in New Orleans, operated by LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD), community-based health care providers and Office of Public Health (OPH); and reduce rates of communicable disease by increasing the number of opportunities for transmission-interrupting interventions, thus improving rates of communicable diseases. Method: Nearly 40 experts in clinical management, surveillance and infection control, information systems, and ethicists from OPH, HCSD and LPHI established guiding principles for LaPHIE, organized work groups, and decided on objectives and their targeted completion dates. Th...
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA, 2011
Louisiana is severely affected by HIV/AIDS, ranking fifth in AIDS rates in the USA. The Louisiana... more Louisiana is severely affected by HIV/AIDS, ranking fifth in AIDS rates in the USA. The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a novel, secure bi-directional public health information exchange, linking statewide public health surveillance data with electronic medical record data. LaPHIE alerts medical providers when individuals with HIV/AIDS who have not received HIV care for >12 months are seen at any ambulatory or inpatient facility in an integrated delivery network. Between 2/1/2009 and 1/31/2011, 488 alerts identified 345 HIV positive patients. Of those identified, 82% had at least one CD4 or HIV viral load test over the study follow-up period. LaPHIE is an innovative use of health information exchange based on surveillance data and real time clinical messaging, facilitating rapid provider notification of those in need of treatment. LaPHIE successfully reduces critical missed opportunities to intervene with individuals not in care, leveraging information his...
Occupational exposures predispose health workers (HWs) to a risk of HIV infection. When
properly ... more Occupational exposures predispose health workers (HWs) to a risk of HIV infection. When properly used, HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can significantly reduce this risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent and types of occupational exposures, availability of PEP guidelines, and utilisation of PEP amongst HWs. A cross-sectional mixed methods baseline study was conducted between March and May 2014 using a structured questionnaire administered to 236 HWs from Shinyanga, Sengerema and Musoma hospitals in Tanzania. Relationships between variables were determined using the chi-square test. Qualitative data was gathered during interviews with key informants and walkthrough observations in the hospital wards, and analysed using the framework method. Majority of respondents were nurses (53%), over 40 years old (61%) with more than 20 years (40%) of hospital experience. Needle stick and sharp injuries were experienced by 31% of respondents whilst 26% experienced splashes. Only 28% of splashes were reported compared to 80% and 68% of needle sticks and sharp injuries, respectively. Those who experienced needle sticks were more likely to report the incident (p < 0.001), receive testing (p < 0.003) or PEP (p = 0.005). Although 66% reported the availability of PEP guidelines, only 39% of exposed HWs received PEP. Occupational exposures are common in these hospitals. HWs under-report and suboptimally use PEP services. Health worker safety programmes should establish functional systems for reporting and adherence to PEP procedures. Future research should establish factors that determine compliance with PEP procedures.
The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a network of seven public hospitals ... more The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a network of seven public hospitals and public health practitioners initiated in 2005 which includes the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSU HCSD), and the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Office of Public Health (OPH) HIV/AIDS Program (HAP), the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program, and TB Program and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI). LaPHIE partners have developed an innovative bi-directional electronic health information exchange supported by information sharing agreements, legal analysis, consumer acceptability research, and strong community relationships. The goal of the initiative is to improve timely diagnosis and treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and syphilis. LPHI has served as a neutral convener for LaPHIE since its inception. A neutral convener can also be referred to as a facilitator, intermediary, organizer, and/or pla...
The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange is a bi-directional electronic health informatio... more The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange is a bi-directional electronic health information exchange (HIE) which communicates sensitive health information between participating public hospitals on out of care persons with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and syphilis. Partners include the Louisiana State University public hospital system, the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health and the Louisiana Public Health Institute. With technical capabilities and local public health infrastructure facilitating public HIEs to improve timely diagnosis and treatment, the question for the LaPHIE Compliance and Ethics work group became, Public health information can be exchanged, but should it? Consumer input was elicited through focus groups and key informant interviews to understand consumer attitudes, and the acceptability of data sharing to intervene with patients unaware of their disease status or lost to care and in need of follow-up. With the National ...
Background: The Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSUHCSD) and the State ... more Background: The Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSUHCSD) and the State of Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH) have developed a secure bidirectional public health information exchange known as the Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE). Developed to facilitate linkage to care and treatment for individuals with HIV, tuberculosis, or syphilis, LaPHIE utilizes electronic messages posted in patients' electronic medical records in the LSU system to help ensure important public health follow-up activities occur. Objective/purpose: With the assistance of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, serving as a neutral convener, the partners collaboratively developed consensus on legal positions and ethical arguments in support of LaPHIE. Methods: The project team formed a Legal and Ethics workgroup tasked with a legal and ethics review. The workgroup completed an inventory and review of all related Federal and State legislation, discussed LaPHIE w...
Background: LA Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana State University - Health Care Servi... more Background: LA Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana State University - Health Care Services Division (HCSD) and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) have partnered to utilize health information exchange to improve treatment of STDs in Louisiana. Objective: Develop a system supporting the effective, rapid and secure exchange of pertinent health information between the public hospital in New Orleans, operated by LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD), community-based health care providers and Office of Public Health (OPH); and reduce rates of communicable disease by increasing the number of opportunities for transmission-interrupting interventions, thus improving rates of communicable diseases. Method: Nearly 40 experts in clinical management, surveillance and infection control, information systems, and ethicists from OPH, HCSD and LPHI established guiding principles for LaPHIE, organized work groups, and decided on objectives and their targeted completion dates. Th...
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA, 2011
Louisiana is severely affected by HIV/AIDS, ranking fifth in AIDS rates in the USA. The Louisiana... more Louisiana is severely affected by HIV/AIDS, ranking fifth in AIDS rates in the USA. The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a novel, secure bi-directional public health information exchange, linking statewide public health surveillance data with electronic medical record data. LaPHIE alerts medical providers when individuals with HIV/AIDS who have not received HIV care for >12 months are seen at any ambulatory or inpatient facility in an integrated delivery network. Between 2/1/2009 and 1/31/2011, 488 alerts identified 345 HIV positive patients. Of those identified, 82% had at least one CD4 or HIV viral load test over the study follow-up period. LaPHIE is an innovative use of health information exchange based on surveillance data and real time clinical messaging, facilitating rapid provider notification of those in need of treatment. LaPHIE successfully reduces critical missed opportunities to intervene with individuals not in care, leveraging information his...
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Papers by Susan Bergson
properly used, HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can significantly reduce this risk. The
purpose of this study was to determine the extent and types of occupational exposures,
availability of PEP guidelines, and utilisation of PEP amongst HWs. A cross-sectional mixed
methods baseline study was conducted between March and May 2014 using a structured
questionnaire administered to 236 HWs from Shinyanga, Sengerema and Musoma hospitals
in Tanzania. Relationships between variables were determined using the chi-square test.
Qualitative data was gathered during interviews with key informants and walkthrough
observations in the hospital wards, and analysed using the framework method. Majority of
respondents were nurses (53%), over 40 years old (61%) with more than 20 years (40%) of
hospital experience. Needle stick and sharp injuries were experienced by 31% of respondents
whilst 26% experienced splashes. Only 28% of splashes were reported compared to 80% and
68% of needle sticks and sharp injuries, respectively. Those who experienced needle sticks
were more likely to report the incident (p < 0.001), receive testing (p < 0.003) or PEP (p =
0.005). Although 66% reported the availability of PEP guidelines, only 39% of exposed HWs
received PEP. Occupational exposures are common in these hospitals. HWs under-report and
suboptimally use PEP services. Health worker safety programmes should establish functional
systems for reporting and adherence to PEP procedures. Future research should establish
factors that determine compliance with PEP procedures.
properly used, HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can significantly reduce this risk. The
purpose of this study was to determine the extent and types of occupational exposures,
availability of PEP guidelines, and utilisation of PEP amongst HWs. A cross-sectional mixed
methods baseline study was conducted between March and May 2014 using a structured
questionnaire administered to 236 HWs from Shinyanga, Sengerema and Musoma hospitals
in Tanzania. Relationships between variables were determined using the chi-square test.
Qualitative data was gathered during interviews with key informants and walkthrough
observations in the hospital wards, and analysed using the framework method. Majority of
respondents were nurses (53%), over 40 years old (61%) with more than 20 years (40%) of
hospital experience. Needle stick and sharp injuries were experienced by 31% of respondents
whilst 26% experienced splashes. Only 28% of splashes were reported compared to 80% and
68% of needle sticks and sharp injuries, respectively. Those who experienced needle sticks
were more likely to report the incident (p < 0.001), receive testing (p < 0.003) or PEP (p =
0.005). Although 66% reported the availability of PEP guidelines, only 39% of exposed HWs
received PEP. Occupational exposures are common in these hospitals. HWs under-report and
suboptimally use PEP services. Health worker safety programmes should establish functional
systems for reporting and adherence to PEP procedures. Future research should establish
factors that determine compliance with PEP procedures.