Meeting case investigation and contact tracing needs during COVID-19 in Alberta: the development and implementation of the Alberta Health Services Pod Partnership Model.

SETTING: In Alberta, a small team of specialized public health experts typically complete case investigation and contact tracing. High COVID-19 case counts and a shortage of trained public health professionals required a rapid and significant adaptation of staffing models to meet the population's needs. INTERVENTION: A tiered, interdisciplinary staffing model, based on those in critical care, was developed, piloted, and implemented in the Alberta Health Services' Communicable Disease Control department in late 2020 to complete case investigation and contact tracing. The final model included novice, non-regulated professionals divided into pods of four to six investigators, led by an experienced regulated investigator. Team leads oversaw five pods. Communicable disease nurses provided an additional tier of clinical expertise. During the model development, roles and responsibilities of team members were delineated, ratios for supervision were tested, and rapid training was provided. OUTCOMES: The tiered staffing model began in November 2020 with staff members in two pods. At its peak in early May 2021, 72 pods of 502 non-regulated members, 134 regulated investigators, and 4 communicable disease nurses completed 780-973 case investigations daily, or 40-45% of all positive cases in Alberta. In comparison, the same number of regulated investigators working independently in the traditional staffing model without non-regulated pods completed, on average, 249 case investigations daily. IMPLICATIONS: A tiered staffing model can be effective at maximizing the skills of the experienced members of the case investigation team to maintain case investigation and contact tracing activities during a pandemic.

RéSUMé: LIEU: En Alberta, une petite équipe de spécialistes de la santé publique mène généralement les enquêtes et la recherche des contacts. Un nombre élevé de cas de COVID-19 et une pénurie de professionnels de la santé publique formés ont nécessité une adaptation rapide et importante des modèles de dotation des équipes pour répondre aux besoins de la population. INTERVENTION: Un modèle de dotation interdisciplinaire à plusieurs niveaux axé sur les patients aux soins intensifs a été élaboré, mis à l'essai et appliqué par la division de la lutte contre les maladies transmissibles des Services de santé de l'Alberta vers la fin de 2020 pour mener les enquêtes et la recherche des contacts. Le modèle final incluait des membres novices de professions non réglementées divisés en modules de quatre à six chercheurs et chercheuses sous la direction d'un chercheur ou d'une chercheuse d'expérience membre d'une profession réglementée. Les chefs d'équipes supervisaient cinq modules. Des infirmières et infirmiers en maladies transmissibles constituaient un niveau supplémentaire d'expérience clinique. Durant l'élaboration du modèle, les fonctions des membres des équipes ont été définies, les ratios d'encadrement ont été testés, et une formation rapide a été fournie. RéSULTATS: L'application du modèle de dotation à plusieurs niveaux a commencé en novembre 2020 avec des effectifs dans deux modules. À son sommet au début de mai 2021, 72 modules, composés de 502 membres de professions non réglementées, de 134 chercheurs et chercheuses de professions réglementées et de 4 infirmières et infirmiers en maladies transmissibles, ont mené de 780 à 973 enquêtes par jour, ce qui englobait entre 40 et 45 % des cas positifs en Alberta. À titre de comparaison, le même nombre de chercheurs et de chercheuses de professions réglementées, travaillant indépendamment selon le modèle de dotation classique sans modules non réglementés, a mené en moyenne 249 enquêtes par jour. CONSéQUENCES: Un modèle de dotation à plusieurs niveaux peut maximiser les compétences des membres expérimentés de l'équipe d'enquête pour maintenir les activités d'enquête et de recherche des contacts durant une pandémie.

Feasibility of implementation of CARD™ for school-based immunizations in Calgary, Alberta: a cluster trial.

BACKGROUND: Negative experiences with school-based immunizations can contribute to vaccine hesitancy in youth and adulthood. We developed an evidence-based, multifaceted and customizable intervention to improve the immunization experience at school called the CARD™ (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract) system. We evaluated the feasibility of CARD™ implementation for school-based immunizations in Calgary, Canada. METHODS: In a mixed methods study, two Community Health Centres providing immunization services, including 5 schools each with grade 9 students (aged approximately 14 years), were randomized to CARD™ or control (usual care). In the CARD™ group, public health staff and students were educated about coping strategies prior to immunization clinics. Clinics were organized to reduce fear and to support student's choices for coping strategies. Public health staff in the CARD™ group participated in a focus group discussion afterwards. We sought a recruitment rate of 80% for eligible schools, an external stakeholder focus group (e.g., school staff) with 6 or more individuals, 85% of individual injection-related data acquisition (student and immunizer surveys), and 80% absolute agreement between raters for a subset of data that were double-coded. Across focus groups, we examined perceptions of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and fidelity of CARD™. RESULTS: Nine (90%) of eligible schools participated. Of 219 students immunized, injection-related student and immunizer data forms were acquired for 195 (89.0%) and 196 (89.5%), respectively. Reliability of data collection was high. Fifteen public health and 5 school staff participated in separate focus groups. Overall, attitudes towards CARD™ were positive and compliance with individual components of CARD™ was high. Public health staff expressed skepticism regarding the value of student participation in the CARD™ system. Suggestions were made regarding processes to refine implementation. CONCLUSION: While most outcome criteria were satisfied and overall perceptions of implementation outcomes were positive, some important challenges and opportunities were identified. Feedback is being used to inform a large cluster trial that will evaluate the impact of CARD™ during school-based immunizations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03948633 ); Submitted April 24, 2019.

Student Feedback to Tailor the CARD™ System for Improving the Immunization Experience at School.

Increasing the comfort of vaccine delivery at school is needed to improve the immunization experience for students. We created the CARD™ (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax and D-Distract) system to address this clinical care gap. Originally designed for grade 7 students, this study examined the perceptions of grade 9 students of CARD™. Grade 9 students who had experience with school-based immunizations, either as recipients or onlookers (n = 7; 100% females 14 years old) participated. Students answered pre-post surveys, reviewed CARD™ educational materials and participated in a semi-structured focus group discussion. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used as the framework for analysis of qualitative data. Participants reported positive perceptions of CARD™ educational materials and that CARD™ could fit into the school immunization process. CARD™ improved knowledge about effective coping interventions and was recommended for education of both nurses and students. The results provide preliminary evidence that CARD™ is acceptable and appropriate for implementation in grade 9 school-based immunizations.