250033 Use of advanced text analytics and automated reporting to improve CDC emergency preparedness through the Division of Emergency Operations

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 11:30 AM

Mary Nguyen-Choi, PhD , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Adam Feldman , Booz Allen Hamilton, Herndon, VA
David Kennedy , Department of Emergency Operations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
David Maples , Department of Emergency Operations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jim Crockett , Department of Emergency Operations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
KC Decker, MA , Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlanta, GA
Barry Koogler , Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA
Joseph Carneiro , Booz Allen Hamilton, Arlington, VA
Objective/Purpose: Through the partnership between the Division of Emergency Operations (DEO), Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Booz Allen Hamilton, a two pronged advanced analytics and IT methodology was developed to address the needs for data standardization and trend analysis of reports and documentation used for planning, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies. Methods: Booz Allen responded to the need by 1) implementing advanced text analytics to extract useful and high-value information from unstructured historical data, and 2) organizing, standardizing, and structuring reporting tools for future data extraction through a web-based, automated reporting system. This two pronged methodology supports the analysis and identification of data, trends, and rapid information retrieval that is needed in public health emergency preparedness and response. Results: By utilizing natural language processing algorithms to mine unstructured legacy data and by providing tools to standardize new data collection and retrieval, Booz Allen Hamilton was able to significantly decrease man hours needed for manual and repetitive data entry and provide quantitative and qualitative answers to the questions of how effective and prepared is the CDC in responding to public health emergencies.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
1. Assess the advanced automated analytical tools and techniques available to assist in answering qualitative and quantitative questions from documents, reports, and forms that can assist leadership in their decision making processes. 2. Discuss how advanced automated analytical tools and techniques can speed up and optimize data reporting and trends analyzation. 3. Describe the methodology and data requirements for the standardization and trend analysis of reports and documentation.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am currently involved with the project, data capture, and analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Booz Allen Hamilton Analytics Employment (includes retainer)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Analytics Consultant

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.