‘Partner services’ are offered to individuals who are diagnosed with STDs, to their partners, and to other persons who are at increased risk of infection in an effort to reduce transmission and decrease the risk of complications resulting from these infections.
Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) are highly trained public health professionals who perform much of the partner services work in Iowa. DIS work to interrupt the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. They employ a diverse set of skills and have a wide range of duties that enable them to act as disease investigators, counselors, educators, and have expertise in clinical recommendations related to STDs, particularly the four infections listed above.
DIS ensure that patients understand their diagnoses, receive adequate treatment, answer any questions they may have, offer risk reduction counseling to reduce the risk of acquiring infections in the future, and elicit information on sex and needle-sharing partners. DIS then work with these partners to confidentially notify them of their exposure and connect them with recommended treatment and testing. DIS are knowledgeable of other resources in their area and refer individuals to other services as needed (e.g., family planning and reproductive health, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, etc.).