Pathology's contributions to disease surveillance: sending our data to public health officials and encouraging our clinical colleagues to do so.
Pathology and clinical laboratories produce many types of data and information that are of relevance in protecting the health of the public. Electronic linkages between laboratory/pathology information systems and public health surveillance databases help ensure that these data reach the appropriate responder rapidly, completely, and accurately. Many efforts are underway to facilitate the flow of data from laboratory/pathology data sources to public health systems. Likewise, pathologists can encourage the contribution of clinical data from other parts of the health care enterprise. Chief complaint data from the emergency department and usage of over-the-counter medications from the retail pharmacy are useful for real-time population health surveillance. Having directly advocated transmission of data from our laboratories and facilitated other departments' participation in the public health surveillance network, we can also serve the public's health in other ways. Public health jurisdictions have a great need for staff with the skill sets of an experienced laboratorian. So, plan to contribute: data and talent.
Aller
Raymond D
RD
Automated Disease Surveillance Section, Acute Communicable Disease Control Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA. raller@cox.net
D055877:Biosurveillance; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D010336:Pathology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D040442:Public Health Informatics / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards