title: Improving HIV Surveillance Data for Public Health Action in Washington, DC: A Novel Multiorganizational Data-Sharing Method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The National HIV/AIDS Strategy calls for active surveillance programs for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to more accurately measure access to and retention in care across the HIV care continuum for persons living with HIV within their jurisdictions and to identify persons who may need public health services. However, traditional public health surveillance methods face substantial technological and privacy-related barriers to data sharing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study developed a novel data-sharing approach to improve the timeliness and quality of HIV surveillance data in three jurisdictions where persons may often travel across the borders of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A deterministic algorithm of approximately 1000 lines was developed, including a person-matching system with Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) variables. Person matching was defined in categories (from strongest to weakest): exact, very high, high, medium high, medium, medium low, low, and very low. The algorithm was verified using conventional component testing methods, manual code inspection, and comprehensive output file examination. Results were validated by jurisdictions using internal review processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 161,343 uploaded eHARS records from District of Columbia (N=49,326), Maryland (N=66,200), and Virginia (N=45,817), a total of 21,472 persons were matched across jurisdictions over various strengths in a matching process totaling 21 minutes and 58 seconds in the privacy device, leaving 139,871 uniquely identified with only one jurisdiction. No records matched as medium low or low. Over 80% of the matches were identified as either exact or very high matches. Three separate validation methods were conducted for this study, and they all found ≥90% accuracy between records matched by this novel method and traditional matching methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrated a novel data-sharing approach that may facilitate timelier and better quality HIV surveillance data for public health action by reducing the effort needed for traditional person-matching reviews without compromising matching accuracy. Future analyses will examine the generalizability of these findings to other applications.
authors.affiliation: The Office of the Senior Vice President for ResearchGeorgetown UniversityWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Joanne Michelle F
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5662-5585
authors.initials: JMF
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer ScienceGeorgetown UniversityWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: J C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6385-5928
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.affiliation: The HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB AdministrationDistrict of Columbia Department of HealthWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2465-9849
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allston
authors.affiliation: Prevention and Health Promotion AdministrationMaryland Department of Health and Mental HygieneBaltimore, MDUnited States.
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3686-6012
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease PreventionVirginia Department of HealthRichmond, VAUnited States.
authors.forename: Sahithi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0500-4206
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boggavarapu
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease PreventionVirginia Department of HealthRichmond, VAUnited States.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7170-6076
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Milken Institute School of Public HealthDepartment of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsThe George Washington UniversityWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Amanda D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9095-2413
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Castel
authors.affiliation: The Office of the Senior Vice President for ResearchGeorgetown UniversityWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1799-3590
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collmann
authors.affiliation: Prevention and Health Promotion AdministrationMaryland Department of Health and Mental HygieneBaltimore, MDUnited States.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4788-2779
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: The HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB AdministrationWashington District of Columbia Department of HealthWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Auntré
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0299-4200
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamp
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease PreventionVirginia Department of HealthRichmond, VAUnited States.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8993-9334
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: The Washington DC Metropolitan Women's Interagency HIV StudyGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Seble
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7527-7384
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kassaye
authors.affiliation: The HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB AdministrationWashington District of Columbia Department of HealthWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3569-8184
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kharfen
authors.affiliation: The HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB AdministrationWashington District of Columbia Department of HealthWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Garret
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5892-4300
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.affiliation: University Information ServicesGeorgetown UniversityWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Raghu
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2968-6053
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pemmaraju
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease PreventionVirginia Department of HealthRichmond, VAUnited States.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0301-2432
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease PreventionVirginia Department of HealthRichmond, VAUnited States.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0856-763X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stover
authors.affiliation: The Washington DC Metropolitan Women's Interagency HIV StudyGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashington, DCUnited States.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4536-3246
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Young
keywords: HIV; data sharing; public health; surveillance; technology