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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Christopher S. Taylor, Kenneth A. Dufault, Christine Adamski, MSN, and Elizabeth A. Talbot, MD. New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Surveillance Section, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301, 603 271-4987, ctaylor@dhhs.state.nh.us

BACKGROUND: Immediately following the terrorist attacks of 2001, NH expanded surveillance capacity by collecting daily reports from hospital emergency department regarding the number of patients seen who satisfy 4 syndrome definitions. By 2003, this paper-based system evolved into an integrated, web-based system that monitors over-the-counter pharmaceutical sales, and quantifies the occurrence of 4 syndromes at schools, emergency departments, and occupational health settings. An evaluation of each component of STEMS was conducted based upon the first 3 years of data collected.

METHODS: All reports to STEMS made between January 2003 and January 2005 were reviewed according to the CDC 2004 Framework for Evaluating Surveillance Systems for Early Detection of Outbreaks.

RESULTS: The STEMS system is simple to use, flexible and adaptable to emerging public health situations. Of the 137,301 ED data reports, 92% were provided within 24 hours and represent 65% of all NH emergency department volume. STEMS is sensitive and has successfully identified public health events including the arrival of influenza season and a school norovirus outbreak. STEMS is a stable system that is available 100% of the time.

DISCUSSION: Disease detection capacity and emergency preparedness is enhanced and promoted through STEMS. STEMS data contributors provide useful early warning detection capacity and offers an efficient and unique approach to public health surveillance. STEMS exemplifies the judicious use of public health resources by developing a cost-effective surveillance system. STEMS' greatest value comes from integrating different surveillance systems into a single tool that is able to adapt to changing surveillance priorities.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Recognize the importance of an integrated surveillance solution.
• 2. Describe the New Hampshire Syndrome Tracking Encounter Management System (STEMS).
• 3. Discuss strengths and weaknesses of a combined syndromic web-based surveillance system.
• 4. Recognize the importance of an integrated surveillance solution.

Keywords: Surveillance, Communicable Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation