What is a Disease Intervention Specialist?
Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) are public health professionals who help slow the spread of infections in Missouri. DIS are trained to understand how sexually transmitted infections (STIs) spread, talk with patients about their health and risk behaviors, and connect people to testing and treatment. They also work with communities and healthcare providers to share clear, practical information about preventing infections.
DIS also help patients make a plan to notify partners who may have been exposed. DIS offers guidance to those reaching out to partners themselves. Other times, the DIS contacts partners directly and protects the patient’s identity.
Key Focuses for DIS:
- Provide the patient with information about their disease and ways to prevent infection in the future.
- Notify and locate unaware partners so they can receive confidential and prompt diagnosis and treatment.
While many people contacted by DIS may not be thrilled about receiving a notification, most are helpful once they understand the importance of receiving treatment for STIs and are assured of the absolute confidentiality of the information they provided.
Making a Plan
Generally, the patient and the DIS arrive at a plan to assure that at-risk partners are notified. In some instances, the patient decides to notify and refer their sexual partners. In this case, the DIS provides coaching on how to do this successfully. In other cases, patients prefer that the DIS inform their partner. When a DIS notifies exposed partners, identifying information about the original patient is never disclosed. The DIS conduct their work in a confidential manner, and are trained to work with diverse populations while maintaining a sense of urgency.