title: Use of statewide electronic emergency department data for occupational injury surveillance: a feasibility study in Massachusetts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statewide datasets of emergency department (ED) visits may be useful for occupational injury surveillance. Using data from 12 hospitals, we evaluated two indicators of work-relatedness in reported ED data and the availability of employment information in medical charts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workers' compensation as payer and/or "yes" in an injury-at-work field were used to define probable work-related (PWR) injury visits in the Massachusetts ED dataset. Charts were reviewed for a sample of 1,002 PWR and 250 probable nonwork-related (PNWR) cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using chart information as the gold standard, indicators of work-relatedness had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 97%, and predictive value positive of 86%. Employer name was in charts for 89% of PWR and 42% of PNWR cases. Occupation was available for 34% of PWR cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic ED data are useful for state surveillance of occupational injuries. Improvements in attribution of work-relatedness and collection of available employer identifiers and occupational information would enhance its usefulness. The performance of indicators of work-relatedness in ED datasets should be examined in different states.
authors: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, 250 Washington St., Boston, MA 02108, USA. letitia.davis@state.ma.us
authors: Letitia K
authors: LK
authors: Davis
authors: Phillip R
authors: PR
authors: Hunt
authors: H Holly
authors: HH
authors: Hackman
authors: Loreta N
authors: LN
authors: McKeown
authors: Victoria V
authors: VV
authors: Ozonoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult