Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response > Regional Epidemiologist

Bill Brinton, M.D., Epidemiologist

The regional epidemiologist tracks diseases of public health importance and works closely with county public health nurses, local healthcare providers and state health department personnel to prevent spread of disease in communities of the San Luis Valley. The epidemiologist works closely with the regional planner and trainer in developing the ability to respond to public health emergencies such as pandemic influenza and diseases of bioterrorism.

The epidemiologist's responsibilities include:

• Develop 24/7 ability to receive disease reports and respond to diseases of public health importance
• Assist the regional planner and trainer in developing plans and trainings to enhance public health's ability to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks
• Provide summaries to SLV public health nurse agencies of the diseases reported in their region, such as: West Nile Virus illness, hantavirus illness and influenza
• Work with public health agencies to investigate cases and outbreaks of disease to find the source of human illness and prevent spread of disease
• Be a resource for information on control of diseases of public health importance
• Keep abreast of developing techniques in epidemiology such as GIS mapping and database management
• Regularly communicate with healthcare partners to seek timely disease reports
• Use a variety of communication tools to promptly notify healthcare partners about public heath threats
• Promote disease prevention in SLV communities through efforts such as mass vaccination for influenza, basic hygiene education such as hand washing and “cough etiquette”, and finding workable ways to use quarantine, if needed
• Ensure personal protection from disease for the region's public health providers
• Research and develop new ways to identify early the victims of bioterrorism