Gastrointestinal disease outbreak detection using multiple data streams from electronic medical records.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Passive reporting and laboratory testing delays may limit gastrointestinal (GI) disease outbreak detection. Healthcare systems routinely collect clinical data in electronic medical records (EMRs) that could be used for surveillance. This study's primary objective was to identify data streams from EMRs that may perform well for GI outbreak detection.

Methods

Zip code-specific daily episode counts in 2009 were generated for 22 syndromic and laboratory-based data streams from Kaiser Permanente Northern California EMRs, covering 3.3 million members. Data streams included outpatient and inpatient diagnosis codes, antidiarrheal medication dispensings, stool culture orders, and positive microbiology tests for six GI pathogens. Prospective daily surveillance was mimicked

SUBMITTER: Greene SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3377951 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature