New York City ED syndromic surveillance data uses SaTScan to detect spatial signals. SaTScan analysis has been integrated into SAS since 2002, and signal maps have been generated from SAS since 2003. Signal maps are created occasionally to investigate a severe outbreak based on the SaTScan results. Previous use and integration of additional GIS analysis in ArcGIS has been done manually, requiring more time, and running the risk of being less consistent than an automated method. This script now integrates the SAS, SaTScan and spatial analysis from ArcGIS to create high-quality maps in an automated procedure.
Objective
The objective was to minimize the amount of time spent on routine, daily analysis of syndromic data, integrate additional spatial analysis, create better maps, and cut response times to outbreaks.