Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is an important tool to track the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

What it isWhat it is not• A process used to identify individuals who may havecome into meaningful contact with an infected person.

• A method long used in public health to track the spread ofmany contagious diseases – including measles, HIV, smallpox
and now COVID-19.

• “Exposure notification” or “digital alerting,” which use
consumer apps to alert individuals they may have comein contact with an infected person based on informationentered into an app and regardless of the time spent with
the individual.

Contact tracing process

Role of OMSs

After identifying a positive patient, public health staff will take thefollowing steps:

OMSs may be contacted during the contact tracing process as
a provider or individual. Regardless of the reason for outreach,be sure to consider the following points.

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Case investigation: Public health staff work with apatient to help them recall everyone they have had
close contact with during the time they may havebeen infectious.

Answer the callContact tracing: Public health staff begin contact
tracing by notifying exposed people (contacts) of
their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as
possible, not revealing the infected patient’s identity.

Verify the caller

Contact support: Contacts are provided witheducation, information and support to help themunderstand their risk, what they should do to separate
themselves from others who are not exposed andhow to monitor themselves for illness. They also are
informed of the possibility they could spread theinfection to others even if they do not feel ill.

Self-quarantine: Contacts are encouraged to stayhome, monitor their health and maintain social
distance (at least 6 feet) from others until 14 days
after their last exposure to the infected patient,in case they also become ill.

• Make sure you answer the call from contact tracers andprovide the requested information. Contact tracing is an
important health function and necessary to track and slow
the spread of the virus.

• The caller should be able to provide you information to verify
their legitimacy before providing personal information.

• Each state has information on who is performing contact
tracing – typically the state or local department of health. Ifconcerned about the legitimacy of a caller, call the referring
agency directly and ask to speak with the contact tracer.

• At no time will a contact tracer ask you for Social Security
numbers or financial or health insurance information.

HIPAA considerations• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Officefor Civil Rights issued guidance that allows protected healthinformation to be disclosed to public health authorities, suchas contact tracers, without specific patient authorization.

• Contact tracers are trained to be HIPAA compliant. They will
not share the name of any infected individuals with the people
they are contacting – just that they were potentially exposedto the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Follow up with patients as necessary• If an exposure incident occurs in your practice, follow up
with patients as necessary and required by law.

• Refer to your state department of health, the AAOMS Interim
Reopening Protocol for the OMS Office and your malpracticeprovider for guidance.

Conclusion
Contact tracing may not be able to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus,
but it can help to lessen the spread in communities and strategicallyprotect high-risk populations. For the method to work, however, thepopulus must be willing to supply information to slow the spread.

Learn more on the CDC website.

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