Key Objectives:
1. Compare CDC programs (OutbreakNet, OutbreakNet Enhanced, Foodborne Disease Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement [FoodCORE]) that build capacity for foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response in state and local health departments. 2. Discuss how performance metrics are used to document successful strategies for improving foodborne disease programs and outbreak response activities. 3. Identify resources that can be used to improve foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Brief Summary:
Foodborne diseases cause illness in approximately 1 in 6 Americans, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually. Decreasing resources impact the ability of public health officials to detect, investigate, and control foodborne disease outbreaks. To address this gap, CDC coordinates three programs – OutbreakNet, OutbreakNet Enhanced (OBNE), and Foodborne Disease Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE) – representing a tiered approach to building public health capacity for improved foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. OutbreakNet provides funding to support epidemiologic activities in 55 jurisdictions. To support the network of public health officials who investigate foodborne disease outbreaks, OutbreakNet coordinates all-state quarterly webinars, regional meetings, and the biennial Integrated Foodborne Outbreak Response and Management (InFORM) conference. OBNE distributes a higher level of funding to 18 sites, with plans to expand in 2017. To improve epidemiologic capacity, state and local health departments use OBNE funding to hire additional epidemiologists or students for foodborne disease interviewing. They also partner with the Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence (CoE) to complete projects to improve foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response in their jurisdiction. Performance metrics allow OBNE sites to identify gaps in their foodborne disease investigation processes and to implement improvements. FoodCORE delivers the highest level of targeted resources to 10 centers to improve completeness and timeliness of laboratory, epidemiology, and environmental health activities. Performance metrics quantitatively evaluate the impact and effectiveness of FoodCORE activities, thus capturing model practices to inform efforts to improve outbreak response in other public health settings. This roundtable will provide a forum for public health professionals to learn more about all three programs and the resources and lessons learned from participating sites. Additionally, discussion will include ongoing process improvement strategies and upcoming opportunities to participate in capacity-building programs to improve foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response in their jurisdictions.