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August, 2017
Partners in Infectious Disease Outbreak Response
The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Infectious
Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division (IDEPC) has been busy
this spring and summer fighting to control multiple disease outbreaks. Most
notably, measles and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). In both cases,
the Office of Vital Records (OVR) has provided important information to IDEPC
to target the response efforts. Although measles can be deadly, there have been
no measles deaths during this outbreak. IDEPC is still reviewing tuberculosis
death data for 2016 and the outbreak.
Before the measles outbreak, IDEPC’s Minnesota Immunization
Information Connection (MIIC) utilized data from OVR to pinpoint specific
populations at risk to vaccine-preventable disease. Looking at birth records
and immunization data, IDEPC identified the declining rate of measles, mumps,
and rubella (MMR) vaccine among Somali Minnesotans. This work put us one step
ahead of an outbreak that could have been much worse. As the outbreak winds
down, MIIC will be using this data once again to see if the outbreak prevention
and control measures implemented had an effect on MMR vaccine rates in this
population.
The MDR-TB response has utilized OVR data on the other end
of the spectrum. This outbreak is primarily affecting the aging Hmong
population that were exposed to MDR-TB in refugee camps many years ago. As the
contact investigation takes place, IDEPC’s tuberculosis prevention and control
program has turned to OVR for death record data when unable to locate a
possible contact. Having access to this data is essential to the efficiency of
the response.
These programs will continue to work together to find at-risk
populations and make efficient use of other vital records birth and death data
and the state’s data and resources to protect and maintain the health of all
Minnesotans.
More information about the Infectious Disease Epidemiology,
Prevention and Control (IDEPC) Division is on the MDH website.
Like
many of your organizations, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is
experiencing changes in the workforce. In the past month, exciting staffing
changes affected vital records and vital statistics.
Within
the Office of Vital Records (OVR), Heidi Granlund moved from the Deputy State
Registrar role to a new position, Application and Records Improvement
Specialist. Heidi will spend much of her time focusing on the MR&C System.
Her new position will provide leadership, analysis, consultation, and oversight
of the electronic applications that support Minnesota’s statewide vital records
activities and the Minnesota Father’s Adoption Registry. She will be involved
in efforts related to continuous quality and process improvement including automation.
The role and responsibilities of the Deputy State Registrar are in review; the
vacancy will be posted soon. Contact the OVR Help Desk at 651-201-5970![]( "Call: 651-201-5970") or vitalrecords@health.state.mn.us
for any questions you would have asked the Deputy State Registrar.
OVR
also hired Tammy Tricas as a Customer Service Specialist Senior in the Issuance
Unit. Her front-line vital records experience in Pine County is valuable. Tammy’s
knowledge of the Minnesota vital records system and the MR&C application is
helping to shorten OVR’s processing time for customer service requests.
The
Minnesota Center for Health
Statistics has recently brought on new staff to assist the Centers for Health Equity and
Community Health in their ongoing mission to promote health equity and
eliminate health disparities. These new staff will be working
collaboratively with OVR to improve data collection and meet the demand for
both real-time and statistical data.
Dan
Fernandez-Baca will serve as the new Director for the center, and Pamela Jo
Johnson will serve as the center’s new Research Scientist in charge of vital
records. The relationship between the Office of Vital Records and the
Center for Health Statistics is an important cornerstone in providing the
public with information on county
level data, longitudinal
trends, and interactive
queries on vital statistics. Dan comes to MDH most recently from
Florida where he served as the assistant director for the Texas Medicaid
External Quality Review Organization at the University of Florida. Pamela
Jo comes to MDH with over 20 years of extensive research experience, and was
most recently working at the University of Minnesota at the Center for
Spirituality & Healing and Division of Epidemiology & Community Health
in the School of Public Health. Questions regarding vital statistics can
be directed to Pamela Jo at Pamela.Jo.Johnson@state.mn.us
or at (651) 201-5944![]( "Call: (651) 201-5944") .
 Last week the Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Health released a new paternity video called “Establishing Parentage – What Every Mother and Father Need to Know”.
New, unmarried parents will watch the parentage video at the hospital after the birth of their child, or later, at a county child support agency. The video helps unmarried parents decide if they want to establish paternity by signing the Recognition of Parentage form, or by adjudicating
paternity through the court.
Minnesota Department of Human Services, Child Support Division staff consulted multiple stakeholders, including Minnesota Fathers and Families Network, hospital staff, county child support staff and the Domestic Abuse Project. The stakeholder feedback helped to prepare the script for the video.
“I appreciate the simplicity of the new video,” said Joe Johnson, board member of the Minnesota Fathers and Families Network. “It repeats several points, especially about not signing the Recognition of Parentage if you don’t feel comfortable.”
Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Autumn Nelson said, “I like how the updated video explains the different options available to new parents in a way that is easy to understand.”
The new video is available in three languages, is less than eight minutes long, and replaces the “Power of Two” video produced by the federal government nearly 17 years ago. The Establishing Parentage – What Every Mother and
Father Need to Know video (English version) is on the Minnesota Department of Human Services Recognition of Parentage web page. Department of Human Services, Child Support Division staff will start distributing DVD copies of the video (containing three languages) to the hospitals and county child support offices in the next few weeks.
Please contact Kristi Phetdara at Kristi.Phetdara@state.mn.us or 651-431-4435![]( "Call: 651-431-4435") , at the Minnesota Department of Human Services if you have any questions.
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