Meet Shannon Parker, an STD Surveillance Specialist with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. This week they are sharing stories with Community Blogger Lucas Byram to show it's work with community partners dedicated to the health of Pierce County and to show a glimpse of work at the health department. 

Parker began her public health career with Pierce County Health Department three years ago working in the Communicable Disease Division as a summer intern. She then began a position as a Disease Investigator. 

Parker contacts the STD victim either by phone, snail mail or social media. For example, she contacted victim Jane Doe (for confidentiality purposes) through phone call and mail. No response. The department has many accounts through social media. She searched for Jane Doe on Facebook and learned a little more about the victim. Parker sent a private message to Jane Doe telling the victim to contact her right away because of an important health issue. The victim then called her, they then discussed what STD's are.

The victim preferred she contact her two partners instead of Parker. Parker then sent perscriptions to her closest pharmacy and picked them up at the pharmacy.

4,161 cases of STD's were reported last year to TPCHD, 2,567 partner interviews were conducted by the health department last year and 2,132 partners were treated last year by the department.

For more information about Comunicable Diseases visit the Pierce County Health Department website.