In September 2004, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health began a 2-year pilot project to develop and evaluate an Emergency Department Chief Complaint Syndromic Surveillance System in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care – Public Health Branch, Queen’s University, Public Health Agency of Canada, Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital. At this time, the University of Pittsburgh’s Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS, Version 3.0) was chosen as the surveillance tool best suited for the project and modifications were made to meet Canadian syndromic surveillance requirements. To evaluate the design and implementation of the system, a multi-sectored approach to evaluation was taken. Individual evaluations of the process, technical aspects and of cost/benefit were conducted to demonstrate proof of concept and the associated costs. An overall outcome or effectiveness evaluation will take place in spring 2006.
Objective
This paper outlines the approach used to evaluate an emergency department syndromic surveillance system on the following areas: process and outcome, cost/benefit and technical.