310797
Effect of automation of communicable disease reports on public health surveillance
Surveillance of communicable diseases is a core public health (PH) function. Underreporting by providers makes gathering details on suspected cases challenging for public health departments.
(2) objective/purpose;
Most communicable disease reports (CDRs) originate from laboratories. We aim to increase reporting rates for providers using an automated process where CDR fields are pre-populated using electronic health records (EHRs).
(3) methods;
The intervention is focused on 7 representative reportable conditions: Hepatitis C, acute hepatitis B, salmonellosis, histoplasmosis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Electronic lab reports trigger the pre-population of CDR forms, which are routed electronically to providers for completion.. Reporting rates, timeliness and completeness of the information in CDRs from providers before and after are being collected for time-series analysis. An information network assessment and qualitative evaluation is also underway.
(4) results;
Baseline reporting rates as well as completeness and timeliness of CDR forms has been completed, and the intervention has been implemented. Preliminary results suggest increased reporting rates by providers as well as more timely and complete CDRs. Interviews with clinical and public health professionals suggest the automated process is perceived positively.
(5) discussion/conclusions.
Provider reports of communicable diseases are often not submitted or delayed due to numerous factors. An automated, EHR-based intervention is promising to increase the efficiency of reporting processes given the increase in EHR availability in clinical settings. Effective interventions will be those which can leverage new clinical workflows using EHR systems to improve reporting without increasing burden on clinical or public health staff.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informaticsEpidemiology
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the challenges to optimal provider-based reporting of communicable diseases.
Describe an automated process for disease reporting that leverages EHR.
Design methods and studies to evaluate new information technology processes for improving disease reporting and surveillance.
Keyword(s): Information Technology, Data Collection and Surveillance
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working on this project the last two years as a graduate assistant and have been involved in most part of the data collection and analysis. I am a epidemiology PhD student at Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. Health informatics and information networks are among my research interest.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
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.