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Continuing education credits now available for Contact Tracing and Pandemic Response

Continuing education credits are now available for Contact Tracing and Pandemic Response, an online, self-guided course developed in partnership between the West Virginia University School of Public Health and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health.

Continuing education fees for a limited number of participants seeking this credit will also be subsidized through a grant from the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

Launched earlier this spring, this course aims to train a ready pool of public health investigators in West Virginia. All participants who complete the training are asked to assist with contact tracing efforts as needed throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Enrollment is open to all with an interest in serving their communities, especially those representing or serving vulnerable populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities, anyone housed in a crowded or group living arrangement, and those living with chronic illness. Ideal traits in contact tracers include attention to detail, cultural awareness and supportive communication skills.

This course is taught by a team of four instructors:

  • Chris Martin, MD, MSc, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, WVU School of Public Health,
  • Lisa Costello, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of General Pediatrics, WVU School of Medicine,
  • Raskia Thondukolam, MD, Occupational Medicine Resident, WVU School of Medicine, and
  • Jaymie Brooks Dumproff, MS, MPH, Public Health Officer, WV Air National Guard

Didactic modules of the course include Basics of Infectious Disease Epidemiology with Reference to COVID-19; General Overview of COVID-19 Testing; Infection Control Measures for COVID-19; Public Health Surveillance; Motivational Interviewing; Confidentiality; and practical training in contact tracing using standardized methods developed by DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Define core principles of contact tracing
  • Describe skills needed for contact tracing
  • Review Basics of Infection Disease and Epidemiology
  • Relate how COVID-19 disease spreads and how to prevent infection
  • Explain specific infection control measures to take for patients, caregivers, health and other essential staff
  • Demonstrate motivational interviewing
  • Complete contact tracing training through Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
  • Explain importance of confidentiality in contact tracing
  • Apply skills to perform contact tracing according to the established protocol

Anyone wishing to enroll obtain more information on the course should contact Joanna DiStefano at Joanna.DiStefano@hsc.wvu.edu.

Disclosure Statement: All those in a position to control content of this program have indicated that they have no relevant interests to disclose.

CME Credit: The West Virginia University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WVU Office of CME designates web course for a maximum of 8.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Credit: This continuing education activity has been provided by the West Virginia University School of Nursing for 10.5 contact hours. The West Virginia University School of Nursing is an approved provider of continuing education by the State of West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses, Legislative Rule § 19CSR11-4 under provider number WV1996-0120RN.

Dentistry Credit: The WVU School of Dentistry is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

The WVU School of Dentistry designates this activity for 8.75 continuing education credits.