Implementing syndromic surveillance: a practical guide informed by the early experience.
Syndromic surveillance refers to methods relying on detection of individual and population health indicators that are discernible before confirmed diagnoses are made. In particular, prior to the laboratory confirmation of an infectious disease, ill persons may exhibit behavioral patterns, symptoms, signs, or laboratory findings that can be tracked through a variety of data sources. Syndromic surveillance systems are being developed locally, regionally, and nationally. The efforts have been largely directed at facilitating the early detection of a covert bioterrorist attack, but the technology may also be useful for general public health, clinical medicine, quality improvement, patient safety, and research. This report, authored by developers and methodologists involved in the design and deployment of the first wave of syndromic surveillance systems, is intended to serve as a guide for informaticians, public health managers, and practitioners who are currently planning deployment of such systems in their regions.
Mandl
Kenneth D
KD
Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Division of Emergency Medicine, Center for Biopreparedness, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. kenneth_mandl@harvard.edu
Overhage
J Marc
JM
Wagner
Michael M
MM
Lober
William B
WB
Sebastiani
Paola
P
Mostashari
Farzad
F
Pavlin
Julie A
JA
Gesteland
Per H
PH
Treadwell
Tracee
T
Koski
Eileen
E
Hutwagner
Lori
L
Buckeridge
David L
DL
Aller
Raymond D
RD
Grannis
Shaun
S
D023482:Bioterrorism; D003219:Confidentiality; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D006801:Humans; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States