Course Description
Focuses on the foundational knowledge and real-world skills needed to work as a case investigator and contact tracer during the COVID-19 pandemic. A multidisciplinary perspective on the origins and best practices of contact tracing and its impact on individuals and society. Topics include COVID-19 etiology and virology, as well as the hard and soft skills required in public health surveillance, including data collection, cultural competency, and confidentiality.
Athena Title
Pandemic Policy
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon successfully completing the course, students will be able to: • Remember medical terms and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, and pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. • Understand principles of patient confidentiality, including the ability to conduct interviews without violating confidentiality and utilizing trauma-informed communication. • Understand culturally sensitive interpersonal interviewing skills, such that you can build and maintain trust with contacts. • Apply leadership and communication skills with contacts who may be difficult to reach or reluctant to engage in conversation. • Remember when to refer individuals to medical, social, or supervisory resources. • Understand the national and international landscape for COVID-19 public health surveillance policy development and implementation and variation in public health surveillance policies. • Apply evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to case investigation and contact tracing, including crisis counseling and brief intervention, and confidently refer patients and contacts for further care if needed. • Understand COVID-19 contact tracing processes and tools from around the world for applicability, appropriateness, clarity, and completeness. • Apply approaches to communicate using cultural competency appropriate to the local community.
Topical Outline
Introduction: Public Health Practice and Policy SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Virology and Infectious Disease Overview Tools of Public Health Surveillance: Community Context and the Policy Landscape Case Studies in Contact Tracing and Policy Implementation COVID-19 Investigation and Tracing TRAINING I: Introduction and Basic Skills COVID-19 Investigation and Tracing TRAINING II: Soft Skills and Cultural Competency COVID-19 Investigation and Tracing TRAINING III: Confidentiality, Privacy, and Public Health Information COVID-19 Investigation and Tracing TRAINING IV: Hands-on Learning Module