The Problem as Defined by CDC
Currently there are multiple systems in place that support communications for public health labs, the clinical community, and state and local health departments. Each has demonstrated the importance of being able to exchange health information. However, many of these systems operate in isolation, not capitalizing on the potential for a cross-fertilization of data exchange. A crosscutting and unifying framework is needed to better monitor these data streams for early detection of public health issues and emergencies. The Public Health Information Network (PHIN) is this framework.
A National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) is Part of the Answer
The vision of NEDSS is to have integrated surveillance systems that can transfer appropriate public health, laboratory, and clinical data efficiently and securely over the Internet. NEDSS will revolutionize public health by gathering and analyzing information quickly and accurately. This will help to improve the nation's ability to identify and track emerging infectious diseases and potential bio-terrorism attacks as well as to investigate outbreaks and monitor disease trends.
To learn more about the Public Health Information Network or the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System initiative, please see the following links to the website of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
West Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System
The State of West Virginia’s response to the NEDSS initiative will be the West Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WVEDSS).
A web-based electronic reporting system, WVEDSS serves local and state public health departments and is being piloted in a handful of West Virginia hospitals. In the past, reportable diseases were reported by providers and laboratories to public health on paper forms by fax and mail.
This system provides manual reporting of diseases as well as direct electronic transfer of laboratory results, currently in pilot testing. Once fully implemented, this system will dramatically enhance disease surveillance, detection and response activities in West Virginia and minimize or eliminate the delays inherent in current paper-based systems.
WVEDSS presently supports reporting of all infectious diseases except sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, but includes hepatitis B. It eventually will support all infectious disease surveillance in West Virginia. Support for Tuberculosis and STD surveillance reporting is planned for 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding WVEDSS (status as of January, 2008)
Q: What is the current status of WVEDSS?
A: The WVEDSS system was declared operational in July 2007 by the Acting Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health. It is currently used by over 400 users
Q: How much did WVEDSS cost?
A: The initial system cost including hardware, third-party software, and professional services was approximately $1.3 million. Funding for WVEDSS is being provided jointly by the federal Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity and Threat Preparedness grants.
Q: What is the status of Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR)?
A: ELR is currently being piloted with five West Virginia hospitals and the State Office of Laboratory Services. We are receiving ‘live’ data from most facilities for continuing evaluation and problem resolution.
Q: Who can I contact about WVEDSS?
A: You may contact the following people: