We work in many different areas of Public Health, from assisting Public Health Nurses (PHN) with difficult patient cases to bioterrorism preparedness. If a PHN requests assistance for a difficult or uncooperative patient, or if a patient is lost to follow-up, the PHI attempts to resolve the problem.

A lot of our work involves field work. Sometimes the PHI will help transport the patient to a clinic to resolve a problem. If a contagious tuberculosis patient is uncooperative or cannot be located, the PHI can request a legal order to locate, isolate or enforce compliance.

Our PHI program also receives sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases from STD Control via CaseWatch. STD cases include chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. We work with the STD clinic to search for partners of patients who need screening and treatment, and to educate newly positive HIV patients with regards to partner notification and early intervention.

We are also trained in the event of outbreaks such as SARS. The training focus is in voluntary isolation and quarantine orders, and if necessary, mandatory orders of isolation and quarantine. Our training in these procedures can be adopted to other diseases, including bio-terrorism.

LA County Department of Health Services
SPA 3 & 4 Area Health Office
Public Health Investigation
241 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 240-8231