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Asif Syed, MD, SNOMED International, College of American Pathologist, 325, Waukegan road, Northfield, IL 60093, 847-832-7308, asyed@cap.org
Changes caused by the patient demographics, increasing costs, political pressures and advancement in the technology present substantial challenges to the local health departments. The Public health agency receives and shares information from a wide variety of sources including physicians, labs, ER, Police, Water dept, environmental agencies etc in order to characterize, control and prevent disease. For effectively implementing national policies and effectively overcome an event of infection epidemic or problems and consequences of a bioterrorism event, we have to employ several strategies and operational changes to improve the patient medical record information flow between the providers, labs and public health agencies
Public heath data from different sources must be able to talk to each other irrespective of the system in which the data is being generated and hence a global clinical language and common data standards in public health are extremely critical for improving patient medical record information flow. Data should be standardized and integrated so that all systems can readily transfer information.
Confidentiality and privacy of all information is also a critical factor and enforcing HIPAA act can do this in a very appropriate and legal way. Appropriate legislation is also required for providers, labs and agencies to report any changes in the status of the patient. Patient medical records and other public health monitoring systems should be linked together to identify and report adverse events quickly.
It is extremely critical to improve the patient medical information flow in order to characterize, control and prevent disease in the case of a bioterrorism event
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: SNOMED international