METHODS: Physicians who are EIN members were surveyed from May 6-June 5, 2015 about communications with state and local public health. We assessed EIN members’ knowledge of how to directly reach the health department, whether they had been directly contacted by their health department in the last 2 years, sources from which they prefer to obtain public health information, and whether communications with public health departments had changed their practice.
RESULTS: Of 1491 active EIN members surveyed, 716 (47.8%) responded. Ninety-one percent knew how to reach their health department directly for an urgent issue, 597 (87.3%) had initiated contact with the health department in the past 2 years, and only 6% described communications with their health department as poor. Interest in newer technologies such as social media and mobile smartphone applications varied. Although 228 (56%) indicated they want a smartphone application, interest differed significantly by years of ID experience: 55% of respondents with fewer than 5 years, 48% of those with 5-24 years, and 33% of respondents with >25 years of ID experience wanted a smartphone application (p=0.0005). Respondents suggested communication with public health could be improved by helping ID physicians know whom to contact and when, and building personal relationships between ID physicians and public health officials.
CONCLUSIONS: Many ID physicians have close working relationships with state and local public health. As more physicians adopt newer communication technologies, health departments should be prepared to incorporate these tools to communicate with ID physicians.