Prior to 2018, Prevention Services had one full-time Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) in the TB program and four full-time DIS in the STD program. In 2018, due to low volume in both programs, the decision was made to split one of the STD DIS positions between the two programs.
Since 2021, we have found that the workload in each program has seen a significant increase in disease burden and the workload is high enough to warrant moving back into two separate positions.
Current TB case load
Current active TB case load is 17. Last year we had 44 total active TB cases and in 2019 we had 45 total active TB cases. There have been 10 new cases reported in less than two months alone and the post-COVID upward trend is expected to continue.
Current STD case load
792 cases of chlamydia YTD. 39% increase in prevalence of syphilis (labor intensive). All infections (excluding HIV) for 2021 currently at 1275 cases, making 9.3/day and trending upwards.
Impact to budget:
- DIS would move full time back to STD program. Current salary is $110,188 and is split across TB and STD programs.
- STD program would absorb back $55,094 in personnel costs.
- Current funding to STD program is received from grants and use of funds in Foundational Public Health money.
- Foundational Public Health funds would be needed to move the DIS back to the STD program full time.
- Hire a new DIS to support the TB program assuming a step 3 $5,684 per month for a total of approximately $88,670 with benefits.
- Would require an additional $33,576 in funding from the TB budget (currently 0.5 DIS in the budget at $55,094).
- Currently, TB funding from the county and the state fully cover costs to this program. The additional costs could be absorbed by this program.