May 2012 Literature Review Summary

ISDS Research Committee

May 31, 2012

Between the bi-monthly Literature Review calls, the Research Committee leadership is hard at work sifting through articles on a weekly basis, and identifying those that would be of interest to the committee. The leadership’s efforts leading up to the May call were not in vain – they resulted in very stimulating conversation.

One article discussed on the call is titled Social and News Media Enable Estimation of Epidemiological Patterns Early in the 2010 Haitian Cholera Outbreak (American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene); it assessed the correlation of volume of cholera-related HealthMap reports, Tweets, and government cholera cases reported in the first 100 days of the 2010 Haitian cholera outbreak. The Research Committee gratefully welcomed first author, Dr. Rumi Chunara of the Children’s Hospital Informatics Program, Children’s Hospital Boston, to the Literature Review call to answer questions about the publication. Dr. Chunara’s presence resulted in all participants gaining a deeper understanding of the research and its implications.

Other articles that were discussed:

• Durham DP, Casman EA. Incorporating individual health-protective decisions into disease transmission models: a mathematical framework. Journal of The Royal Society Interface. 2012;9(68):562–570.
• Li J, Davies GJ, Kendall G, et al. Evidence and belief in regulatory decisions – Incorporating expected utility into decision modelling. Expert Systems with Applications. 2012;39(10):8604–8610.
• Halvorson EE, Peters TR, Snively BM, Poehling KA. Potential impact of accelerating the primary dose of rotavirus vaccine in infants. Vaccine. 2012;30(17):2738–2741.
• Wu WY, Hripczak G, Lurio J, et al. Impact of Integrating Public Health Clinical Decision Support Alerts Into Electronic Health Records on Testing for Gastrointestinal Illness. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2012 May-Jun; 18(3):224-7.

Full article summaries written by Research Committee members are available here.

In addition to the article summaries and discussions, the Award for Outstanding Research Articles in Biosurveillance was announced! This award is being offered in order to recognize disease surveillance scientists and professionals for contributions to their fields of research. Nominations for the awards are currently being accepted (Deadline: June 25th). Nominate today.

Comment Period Open for Input on ISDS' Revised Guidelines for Meaningful Use

ISDS is pleased to present the Revised Guidelines for Syndromic Surveillance Using Inpatient and Ambulatory Clinical Care EHR Data and requests your feedback on these Revised Guidelines during the final 30-day public comment period.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the Draft Guidelines. Over the last month, the Meaningful Use Workgroup revised the Guidelines to better align with stakeholder needs, perspectives, and expectations based on stakeholder comments. You can view a summary of the major changes in the Revised Guidelines document or in the Guidelines FAQ. 

ISDS requests your feedback in the coming month during the final, and most important, comment period prior to ISDS' release of recommendations for Meaningful Use. This is your last opportunity to directly shape the recommended guidelines to the ONC, as your input will either support the changes that were made int he Revised Guidelines or emphasize places where further edits are needed.

The comment period will be open from June 5, 2012 - July 3, 2012. 

View the Revised Guidelines

View the Guidelines FAQ

How to provide comments: 

1. On-line survey found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ISDSRevisedGuidelines2012 

2. E-mail ISDS Public Health Analyst, Becky Zwickl, MPH at bzwickl@syndromic.org

3. Join an open teleconference call to discuss your comments with your colleagues and MU Workgroup members on Monday, June 18th at 1:00 PM EDT. More information. 

4. Schedule a call with Becky Zwickl to provide feedback by contacting her at bzwickl@syndromic.org

You may learn more about the development of the Guidelines for Syndromic Surveillance Using Inpatient and Ambulatory Clinical Care EHR Data and the MU Workgroup members on the ISDS website here: http://www.syndromic.org/meaningfuluse/IAData.

If you have any questions, please contact ISDS Associate Director of Public Health Programs, Charlie Ishikawa, MSPH at meaningfuluse@syndromic.org.

2012 ISDS Conference Highlight: Abstract Submission

2012 ISDS Conference

Expanding Collaborations to Chart a New Course in

Public Health Surveillance

Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina

1380 Harbor Island Drive | San Diego, California 92101

The ISDS Annual Conference is the premier event dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of biosurveillance. This year’s theme, Expanding Collaborations to Chart a New Course in Public Health Surveillance, will highlight the importance of working together across agencies, sectors, and disciplines to improve surveillance methods and population health outcomes. The conference will be held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina in San Diego, CA, December 4-5, 2012, with Pre-Conference Workshops on December 3rd.

 

Submission Types

Traditionally, the ISDS Conference has accepted abstracts for two types of presentations: oral and poster. This year, ISDS is introducing three new presentation types:

1.     Panel *New for 2012*

2.     Roundtable *New for 2012*

3.     System Showcase Demonstrations *New for 2012*

 

Track Descriptions

I.        Analytical Method

a.       Analytical Methods: Applied

b.      Analytical Methods: Research & Development

This theme is focused on important and novel advances in the field of surveillance methodologies and analytical approaches. Abstracts in the Applied sub-track should describe methods or processes routinely used in a production-type environment. Abstracts in the Research and Development sub-track should describe methods and processes still under development or tested within a research or pilot setting.

II.     Informatics

a.       Informatics: Applied

b.      Informatics: Research & Development

Abstracts in the Applied sub-track should describe methods or processes routinely used in a production-type environment. Abstracts in the Research and Development sub-track should describe methods and processes still under development or tested within a research or pilot setting.

III.  Policy (at local, state, federal, international levels)

This theme is focused on sharing successes, challenges or approaches leveraged in the use or development of policy that affects biosurveillance operations and activities.

IV.  Public/Population health surveillance

a.      Public/Population Health Surveillance: Practice

b.      Public/Population Health Surveillance: Research

c.      Public/Population Health Surveillance: Evaluation

This theme is focused on improving the daily processes of timely public/population health surveillance, including detection, signal validation, event characterization, investigation, and response. Abstracts in the Practice sub-track should describe practices routinely used in a production environment and/or deployed in field by public health departments or other agencies. Abstracts in the Research sub-track should describe research related to surveillance, health systems, etc. Abstracts in the Evaluation sub-track should describe evaluations of public/population health surveillance systems, workflows, protocols, etc.

For more information about the changes and to submit an abstract visit http://www.syndromic.org/abstract-submission/2012. The abstract submission deadline is September 6, 2012.

2012 Conference Registration is also OPEN. For more information and to register: http://www.syndromic.org/annual-conference/2012/registration.

*Use #2012ISDSC in all conference-related tweets!

ISDS May Member Highlight: Dr. Louise Wilson

ISDS is happy to introduce this month's ISDS Member Highlight: Dr. Louise Wilson. Last month, ISDS began the ISDS Member Highlight project as a way to highlight member achievements, interests, and inspirations in an effort to showcase successful and highly active ISDS members. The May ISDS Member Highlight will introduce Dr. Louise Wilson, who is the ISDS Global Outreach Committee Chair.

How did you first learn about disease surveillance and when did you decide that it was an area of interest for you? 

As a paediatric intensivist I had a practical interest in disease surveillance, but it was whilst working in public health at Health Protection Scotland that I became interested in syndromic surveillance and biostatistical approaches to disease surveillance.

What do you do?

I work in the National Health System and I am the Director of Public Health for Orkney, a beautiful archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

I love the variety of work to be covered - with the additional challenge of delivering preventative services in the remote and rural setting.  

What excites you in the work you do? 

Everything! For me it is a privilege to work in the NHS and serve the local community. I’m lucky to work with some really dedicated people.

Who or what inspires you professionally? 

I’ve been fortunate to work in a number of countries and had many great teachers. However, when I graduated, I worked for a paediatic surgeon, Willie Bisset, who was simply inspirational in his dedication and approach to patients, colleagues and work.

How long have you been involved with ISDS?

I have been involved with ISDS since 2006, when I presented a poster in Baltimore. I now chair the Global Outreach Committee.

Why are you an ISDS member?  

I think the society is a great way to make surveillance techniques widely available and share best practice. It enables me to bring the best of cutting-edge practice to my local practice. I particularly enjoy supporting the work of the society as it focuses on surveillance in the global setting.

What do you value most about your ISDS membership? 

The connectivity it provides is important for me – I feel part of a great community. That is particularly important when working in a remote setting. The approachability of members, their willingness to share their ideas, and the mix of backgrounds of people involved with ISDS makes it special. The annual conference is a real highlight of the year for me – I love putting faces to the names of people I’ve been working with over the year and meeting new people.

What is the biggest issue in disease surveillance (in your opinion)? 

For me it is the challenge of making surveillance practical and usable for the front line staff – so that we reduce morbidity and save lives. The shift from theoretical to practical solutions is crucial.

If you could meet anyone living or deceased, who would it be? 

The “enchantress of numbers” Ada Lovelace (1815-52). She was the daughter of the poet Lord Byron and worked with Charles Babbage. 

Grant Opportunity: BioSense 2.0 Situation Awareness and Syndromic Surveillance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a funding opportunity entitled "BioSense 2.0: Building State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Surveillance Capacity to Enhance Regional and National All-Hazards Public Health Situation Awareness" on May 11, 2012. Eligible applicants include state governments, city or township governments, special district governments, Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations.

The purpose of this program is to assist state, local, tribal and territorial health authorities to implement public health situation awareness and syndromic surveillance utilizing BioSense 2.0. Some specific goals include promoting timely exchange of health-related information between providers and public health authorities; facilitating timely information sharing among state, local, tribal, and territorial levels; and promoting improvement of the science, analytic and workforce practice for public health surveillance at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels.

Through this grant, the CDC will award $100,000 - $300,000 up to 25 recipients. The anticipated award date is August 1, 2012.

The application deadline for this grant opportunity is June 26, 2012 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern Standard Time.

For more information about this funding opportunity and for the full announcements and application, visit http://www.grants.gov/search/synopsis.do;jsessionid=XpfBPyyNs1h8jnrQK4y9LGlyVRv1WnyY6KtLTNyySb8H57S3zfxP!884034953.

ISDS NPRM for Stage 2 Comments

ISDS would like to share the final ISDS comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Notices of Proposed Rule Making (NPRMs) for Stage 2 Meaningful Use. The ONC and CMS published their NPRMs with the federal registrar for a 60 day public inspection period, during which time they asked for stakeholder comments and feedback. As an opportunity to represent the ISDS community of public health practitioners, ISDS staff and stakeholders developed two response letters to CMS and ONC. You may view the final versions of the ISDS comments below:

ISDS Comments to CMS
ISDS Comments to ONC

The ISDS staff would like to thank the Public Health Practice Committee, Distribute Community of Practice Members, ISDS Board of Directors, and other society affiliates for providing feedback on the ISDS letters. This collaboration was a crucial element in strengthening the ISDS comments and ensuring society representation.


If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail meaningfuluse@syndromic.org. 

Share Your Favorites: Statistical Analysis, Tools, and Packages

The BioSense Redesign Team is requesting feedback from BioSense stakeholders about commonly used statistical analysis, tools, software and commands for surveillance. Provide your feedback by answering survey questions posted on the BioSense Public Health Situation Awareness Feedback Forum. ISDS encourages you to take this opportunity to inform the BioSense development team of your favorite tools. 


You may find the original message from the BioSense Redesign Team below.
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Dear BioSense Redesign Stakeholder:

Our fourteenth post for the Public Health Situation Awareness topic has launched!  Please take a moment to visit the BioSense Redesign site and answer the new questions* to help the BioSense development team identify commonly used software, statistical analysis, and commands for routine surveillance. The CDC will use your feedback to better understand how to tailor the new BioSense application. Your feedback is valuable to the redesign of the BioSense system and Program.

Please visit the BioSense Redesign Collaboration Web Site to access questions at the Requirements Gathering Work Center or link directly to the questions at PHSA Feedback Forum 14: Statistical Analysis, Tools and Packages.

Thank you,

The BioSense Redesign Team

*New questions are posted for comment on a weekly to biweekly basis.  Check back often for updates and summaries of feedback posted by stakeholders.