Detecting vulnerable groups in DHHS aspr's EMR data during response: A snapshot of superstorm sandy

Background: Matching resources to population need is essential for successful federal response to emergencies. Currently, rigorous identification of need has remained elusive for the federal response mission during public health and medical disasters. Particularly important, is the understanding of the impact on vulnerable populations. When disasters strike, such as Superstorm Sandy, federal medical teams deployed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to track patient encounters. Purpose: To develop a data visualization and analytical dashboard using EMR data focused on vulnerable populations including pregnant women, pediatric and senior populations, people with chronic disease, and people with mental and behavioral health disorders. Methods: Define clinically meaningful categories, derived through expert-opinion, using ICD-10-CM codes in statistical analysis software. Results: Of the total patient encounters recorded for Superstorm Sandy, almost half reflected encounters related to vulnerable populations. Discussion: The dashboard provided a near real-time glimpse of patient encounters related to vulnerable populations. Moreover, the dashboard assisted responders in the field and headquarters alike day and night during Sandy to understand the disease burden, patient population, and identify any emerging public health and medical needs during the response.