The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46469

Angela K. Laramie, MPH¹, Laurie Robert, MS², Jan P. Abshire, MPH³, Gary P. Stein, PhD³, and Letitia Davis, ScD¹. (1) Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5625, angela.laramie@state.ma.us, (2) John Snow, Inc., 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210, (3) NCID / Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working collaboratively to investigate the feasibility of a web-based surveillance system, NaSH "Lite", which enables healthcare facilities to collect and analyze data on occupational exposure events. NaSH "Lite" is based on the current CDC National Surveillance System for Health-Care Workers (NaSH) which began gathering data in 1995 on occupational exposures to blood and body fluids, tuberculosis, and vaccine preventable diseases among hospital workers. NaSH "Lite" only collects bloodborne pathogen exposure data. Six hospitals are piloting this innovative system; one, is gathering data from nursing homes for whom they provide occupational health services. Little is known about the incidence of sharps injuries in long-term care settings; NaSH "Lite" may provide an effective surveillance method for that sector of healthcare. While each hospital has access to its own data, MDPH has access to the aggregate data. NaSH "Lite" will provide MDPH with anonymous data needed to track sharps injuries among healthcare workers statewide. NaSH "Lite" is maintained centrally by CDC; because it is web-based, it could provide an efficient mechanism for small and large facilities to record exposure events and may thereby provide new information on the incidence of sharps injuries and other exposure events in nonhospital settings. A web-based system like NaSH "Lite" could provide CDC access to national data. Experience in recruiting facilities, factors considered during implementation, and data collected to date using this web-based surveillance system will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify factors to consider and describe the process of implementing a web based surveillance system as well as discuss the benefits of involving state agencies in workplace surveillance.

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centers for Disease Control; Massachusetts Department of Public Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: cooperative agreement