Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious disease killer, claiming 1.5 million lives in the world each year. In the U.S., a total of 7,163 TB cases were reported during 2020 (2.2 cases per 100,000 persons), 20% fewer than during 2019 (2.7 cases per 100,000 persons). The decrease is attributed to undetected cases and lower transmission due to the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. HCC, Inc. collaborated with National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to conduct an evaluation to identify how local health departments and their health center partners pivoted during the COVID-19 response to provide services for TB and COVID-19, identify facilitators, drivers and lessons learned and inform on workforce development and capacity building efforts.
Themes identified during the evaluation included:
- Decrease in TB cases and LTBI.
- Staff capacity decreases.
- Additional duties assigned to TB staff.
- Increase in Video DOT/telehealth.
- Transference of skills to other non-TB staff.
- Maintenance of TB program goals.
- Enhanced education to providers to test/screen for TB.
- COVID-19 masking requirements may have helped reduce TB transmission.
- TB patients unable/unwilling to pick up medications.
- Change to processes and procedures.
- Established partnerships maintained or improved relationships during COVID-19 response.
A series of three case studies was developed from the evaluation and features the following partnerships:
- Houston Health Department – HOPE Clinic (Texas)
- Grand Forks Public Health Department – Spectra Health (North Dakota)
- Lynn Board of Health- Massachusetts General Brigham North Shores Pulmonary Clinic (Massachusetts)
Read the full case studies here: NACCHO Informing Local Health Department and Health Center Partnerships: Creative Collaboration Strengthening Tuberculosis Care