Past Field Assignments
Food Safety Staff Training
Agency: Washington State Department of Health – Food Safety Program
The assigned SEAL reviewed available materials and current guidance to determine what additional information may help local health/food operators in reducing the risk of transmitting foodborne and other communicable illnesses. The SEAL developed a written document to be shared digitally on the DOH website and with food safety partners.
Long Term Care Facility – Outbreak Reporting
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEALs synthesized survey findings from interviews with local health jurisdictions about reporting of LTCF influenza-like-illness outbreaks. The SEALs helped identify the best approach for reporting of LTCF influenza-like-illness outbreaks.
Zika Virus Response: Ongoing Support
Agency: Public Health – Seattle & King County
The SEAL Team was asked to provide additional support for Zika response in King County. SEALs were responsible for communicating CDC Zika screening guidance to health care providers, including reporting laboratory findings.
Washington Disease Reporting System at Washington State DOH – Phase 3
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
Continuing the work of the first SEAL cohort, SEALs assigned to this project supported the Washington Department of Health staff during a transition to a new case reporting system for the state. They developed case reporting forms, updated guidance, and reviewed content with subject matter experts.
Food-borne Complaint Reporting at Washington State DOH – Phase 3
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEALs continued a project started the the first SEAL cohort, exploring the feasibility of developing a centralized food-borne complaint online reporting system and telephone hotline for Washington State. The SEALs analyzed data from a survey sent by the Washington State Department of Health to local health jurisdictions. The main questions of the survey discussed local health jurisdictions’ current complaint systems, what works or does not about current systems, and their opinions on how a centralized system might help their work.
Hepatitis C Database – Continuum of Care (Upcoming Case)
Agency: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Students will use skills in data management and STATA coding to build a case definition, largely defined by specific lab results, and apply it to clients in the county hepatitis database. This will classify clients’ stage on the Continuum of Care (CoC). The final product will be an automated system which will rapidly assign individuals to stages along the CoC so staff no longer have to do this by hand. This will hopefully simplify the work of health department staff and facilitate better linkage to care for Hepatitis C + individuals.
UW Mumps Outbreak
Agency: University of Washington, Environmental Health & Safety Department
The assigned SEAL helped managed data from Public Health – Seattle and King County (PHSKC) on cases in the UW mumps outbreak. This included streamlining the Excel database used to track cases on campus and conducting basic descriptive epidemiology (e.g. epidemic curves) on a weekly basis. The SEAL participated in weekly phone calls with UW staff and communicated with also with PHSKC.
Waterborne Disease Outbreaks in Washington State
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEAL worked on illustrating the descriptive epidemiology of two-to-three decades of waterborne outbreak data, covering around 25 outbreaks in Washington.
Foodborne Complaint Reporting
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
SEALs interviewed key stakeholders at other state health departments about their centralized reporting systems for foodborne complaints. SEALs then compiled this information into a presentation for the Washington Department of Health to support the development of a potential system in Washington. Finally, SEALs developed a survey for local health jurisdictions in Washington to gauge interest in and readiness for a centralized foodborne complaint system in the state.
Foodborne Illness Communications
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The assigned SEAL was responsible for working with the communications staff/Public Information Officer to develop a summarizing document addressing common media questions related to the epidemiology of specific foodborne diseases and outbreaks.
Zika Virus
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
SEALs worked with the the Washington Department of Health Zoonotic Epidemiologist to develop a database for Zika testing data. Once completed, SEALs also entered data into the database. The possibility remains for SEALs to analyze a portion of this data as well.
Zika Virus Response: Health Care Provider Calls
Agency: Public Health – Seattle & King County
SEALs received training about Zika virus, current screening criteria, and the procedures at Public Health- Seattle and King County. The group then provided daily support to public health nurses and other staff to approve government-run Zika testing, answer health care provider questions, and manage paperwork related to testing requests and results, including completing incomplete intake forms to facilitate interpretation at the department.
Case Report Forms for Electronic Disease Surveillance
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEALs revised two case report forms to match the new electronic disease surveillance database as a pilot project to determine the value and feasibility of revising additional forms. The two forms selected for piloting were Salmonella and Pertussis, and have since been successfully used for data collection by local health jurisdictions.
Prion Disease Surveillance
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEAL created a quick reference sheet for human prion disease and researched information to support development of detailed recommendations for funeral homes dealing with deceased cases.
The Matador E. coli Outbreak
Agency: Washington Department of Health
The SEAL supported the Washington Department of Health during an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at a local restaurant, testing and revising a questionnaire for use with control individuals for a case-control study.
Mumps Outbreak
Agency: Public Health – Seattle & King County
The SEALs supported Public Health-Seattle and King County during response to a mumps outbreak in county schools. Public Health – Seattle and King County went into Incident Command, and SEALs helped with case interviews and communicating with providers about protocols and standards for laboratory testing at the state lab.
Washington Disease Reporting System
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEALs support the Washington Department of Health staff during a transition to a new case reporting system for the state. They developed case reporting forms, updated guidance, and reviewed content with subject matter experts.
Assessment of Sources of Lead Exposure Among Pediatric Refugee Arrivals with Elevated Blood Lead Levels
Agency: Washington State Department of Health
The SEALs supported the Washington Department of Health Refugee Health Program to: 1) determine the completeness of reporting for elevated blood lead level (EBLL) cases among pediatric refugee arrivals in Washington State and 2) identify the potential sources of lead exposure among EBLL cases in order to inform targeted public health intervention and education and outreach activities.