AP Photo Matt York
Biosurveillance, the detection and observation of disease outbreaks, is not an entirely new concept. ...Public health officials seek to mitigate the impact of health-related events through early detection and rapid response. These events can be predictable, such as the flu season, and unpredictable, such as bioterrorism or food-borne illness. The challenge for biosurveillance is to rapidly identify and characterize these events amid the backdrop of other health and illness patterns. Traditional disease surveillance relies upon vigilant healthcare providers to report suspicious cases presenting to them. While valuable, this is a passive process and, barring greatly heightened levels of awareness, detection is often delayed. By contrast, contemporary biosurveillance seeks to accelerate this process through automation, integration and analysis. With greater availability of raw data in electronic format, a wide array of information can be automatically collected. This includes electronic health records (EHR) and laboratory results. In addition, other novel information sources, such as news feeds, intelligence reports, over-the-counter sales, school and work absenteeism, and public transit ridership, can be superimposed on health data.
Through sophisticated analytics, detection and situational awareness can be enhanced. Applying modeling and simulation that accounts for relevant factors, such as weather conditions, population density, supply chain issues and bird migration patterns, response can be more targeted and effective.
While some EHRs have been connected directly to federal, state and local public health agencies, HIEs and the NHIN present perhaps the most efficient opportunity to collect data from large geographic regions.Other regional and national initiatives (such as incentives to promote EHR adoption, or pilots to extend broadband networks to rural healthcare facilities) provide hope that some of these obstacles may be overcome. In addition, the use of health IT, as well as privacy and security, has been a focal point of pending legislation and presidential candidate discussion. However, while these developments may create an environment conducive to electronic health information and improved biosurveillance, critical decisions must be made at the local level. To view a presentation on biosurveillance please access the website via this link: www.ihealthbeat.org/Special-Reports/2008/Biosurveillance-A-National-Effort-in-EDs-To-Identify-Deal-With-Health-Care-Threats.aspx
AP Photo Matt York
.Biosurveillance strengthens both public health and bioterrorism preparedness. The goal of biosurveillance is to monitor and link the incidence of disease to help in early detection of public health threats. Only by swiftly recognizing patterns and identifying their specific nature and scope can state and local public health officials launch rapid, appropriate responses.
Numerous decisions are faced by a public health institutions:What types of outbreak are the target events for detection, and on what scale is the detection needed? What information sources should be used, and how should the data from these sources be filtered and analyzed? How should the results be visualized by users? Some of these decisions are dictated by available data
limitations, others by objectives and resources of the organization doing the surveillance. The question is: Is biosurveillance a form of big brother surveillance, or will the data abstraction be utilized as a means to minimize outbreaks in our communities?
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