News

Mumps Outbreak in Tulsa County, Oklahoma – Clinician Recommendations
Summary

The Tulsa Health Department (THD) and Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) are investigating an outbreak of mumps in Tulsa County. Since February 2017, 8 cases of mumps have been identified among residents of Tulsa County, including 5 laboratory-confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As of March 7, 2017, all 8 cases are individuals affiliated with a Tulsa-area business, and household mem...bers of a case. The recent onsets of cases mean transmission is ongoing and exposed, personal contacts may develop illness over the next several weeks. The majority of outbreak-associated mumps cases have a documented vaccination history of at least 2 doses of MMR; therefore, clinicians are advised to test for mumps in patients with acute parotitis even among patients with a history of MMR vaccination.

Clinicians should contact the OSDH Acute Disease Service Epidemiologist-on-Call at (405) 271-4060 (24/7/365 availability) to report suspected mumps cases that meet the following criteria:
1. Parotitis and exposure to a mumps outbreak affected area; OR
2. Positive laboratory results for mumps PCR, viral culture, mumps IgM, and IgG titers greater than laboratory cutoff values.





Keep Informed about the Work of the Oklahoma Future of Nursing: APRN Practice Group

The mission of the Oklahoma Future of Nursing:  APRN Practice Group is to facilitate advanced practice nursing consensus, communication, and practice to improve Oklahoma patient health outcomes.  The APRN Practice Group (whose membership includes leaders from APRN and nursing professional associations, community leaders, interested APRNs, and other stakeholders) was formed in response to the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health Report (2010), which recommended that scope of practice barriers be removed so that APRNs can practice to the full extent of their education and training.  Co-chaired by Mary Holter, APRN-CNP, and Martha Hernandez, APRN-CNS, the group has been meeting on a regular basis for approximately two years to identify actions that can be taken to meet this recommendation in Oklahoma.  During this time, the APRN Practice Group has achieved the following:
  • Developed educational materials that can be used to educate consumers on APRN practice;
  • Met with staff members from Governor Fallin's office and the Oklahoma State; Department of Health to discuss how APRNs can assist with achieving improved health outcomes in Oklahoma;
  • Met with staff members from the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health to discuss how APRNs can better assist with mental health care in Oklahoma;
  • Participated in a series of webinars and conference calls discussing progress across the United States in meeting the IOM recommendation;
  • Developed a Communication Tree with members that include APRNs, leaders of educational programs, representatives of APRN and nursing professional associations, and other interested stakeholders.
The Communication Tree will be used by the APRN Practice Group to keep APRNs and other health stakeholders advised of:
 
  • Actions of the Oklahoma Network: Future of Nursing Action Coalition, APRN Practice Group, or other groups that impact implementation of IOM recommendations; and
  • Legislation or policy developments in Oklahoma that may impact the ability of APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and training.
There are currently more than 100 stakeholders included as a part of the Communication Tree, but the APRN Practice Group would love to expand that number to include every APRN in the state.  Would you be interested in being a part of the Communication Tree?  If so, please email the APRN Practice Group at: okaprn@gmail.com, and provide your name, email address, and telephone number.