"I Didn't Know Him Before the Pandemic… Now He's on My Speed Dial": Strengthening Collaboration Between Infectious Diseases Physicians and State and Local Public Health for Future Public Health Emergencies

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases (ID) physicians play a crucial role in public health emergencies. Effective collaboration between public health agencies and healthcare providers is essential for a coordinated response. However, there is limited information on how ID physicians and health departments collaborate and which areas need to be improved. Here, we identify ways to enhance public health preparedness through increased collaboration between ID physicians and state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments.

Methods: We performed a secondary qualitative analysis of 37 telephone interviews conducted using a semistructured discussion guide. Interviews were conducted from July 2023 through September 2023 as part of a pandemic preparedness needs assessment by the Infectious Diseases Society of America's COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network. Participants included ID physicians (n = 13), public health workers (n = 7), healthcare facility-based pandemic leaders (n = 7), and national stakeholders (n = 10).

Results: While some jurisdictions had robust connections between ID physicians and public health staff, lack of coordination in other areas led to duplication of efforts, confusion, and underutilization of resources. Respondents indicated that collaboration can be strengthened over time. Recommendations included better data systems, standardized reporting procedures, early dissemination of updates, and training of ID physicians in the incident command structure and media communication.

Conclusions: The opportunity to build on institutional knowledge from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic will be lost without a commitment of time, resources, and planning. Public health officials can use this experience as a catalyst for building strong collaborative relationships between ID physicians and public health practitioners, a cornerstone of future pandemic response.

Keywords: collaboration; infectious diseases; infectious diseases experts; preparedness; public health emergencies.