Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104204

John P. Abellera, MPH, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, 2872 Woodcock Blvd., Ste. 303, Atlanta, GA 30341, Joseph L. Annest, PhD, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Office of Statistics and Programming, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NE MS-K59, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, Judith M. Conn, MS, EMBA, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Office of Statisitcs and Programming, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NE MS-K59, Atlanta, GA 30341, and Melvin A. Kohn, MD, MPH, Department of Human Services, Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Oregon Health Division, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 772, Portland, OR 97232, 503-731-4023, melvin.a.kohn@state.or.us.

Background/Objectives: E-coded statewide Hospital Discharge Data Systems (HDDS) and Hospital Emergency Department Data Systems (HEDDS) are important sources of injury surveillance data. We repeated a survey done by the American Public Health Association in 1997 in order to evaluate progress toward the collection and use of E codes in statewide morbidity data systems.

Methods: Using the 1997 E code survey questions, information was collected from 49 state and territorial injury prevention directors via a web-based survey provided by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.

Results: Compared to 1997, 3 more states have acquired HDDS, but 5 states are still without one. Half of states still do not have an HEDDS. Of states that have evaluated their systems, only 14 (44%) HDDS and 6 (55%) HEDDS have more than 90% of their injury records E-coded. Overall in 2004, systems with mandated E-coding (26 states for HDDS and 15 states for HEDDS) have a higher percentage of injury records E-coded. There continues to be great heterogeneity across states in the number and type of fields available for E-codes in these data systems and the agency in which these data systems are housed.

Conclusion: Overall, there has been only modest improvement in the availability and quality of E-coded hospitalization and emergency department data from 1997 to 2004. Further improvement will require a focused, coordinated effort by federal and state public health partners. Based on the survey findings additional specific recommendations for improving E-coding of HDDS and HEDDS will be presented.

Learning Objectives: