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Displaying results 9 - 16 of 20
  • Making the Best Use of Textual ED Data for Syndromic Surveillance

    Content Type: Webinar

    In this webinar Dr. Travers will review two tools developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which aid in processing textual CC’s and triage notes in support of syndromic surveillance. Textual data from emergency departments… read more
    … can still be problematic. Chief complaints from ED visits are a common data source for syndromic surveillance, … Developed*& Validated# • Sublanguage analysis, 39,038 ED visits • Validated on 203,509 ED visits • Expert panel review of output, 96% accurate • …
  • Models for Forecasting Asthma Exacerbations in Urban Environments

    Content Type: Use Case

    Use case for the Analytic Solutions for Real-Time Biosurveillance: Models for Forecasting Asthma Exacerbations in Urban Environments consultancy held March 30-31, 2016 at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). Problem… read more
    … pollen.  Available data sources are emergency department visit records, weather data, air quality data, and pollen … pollen. Available data sources are emergency department visit records, weather data, air quality data, and pollen … to address the problem: Syndromic surveillance ED visits 2008-2015 (Asthma and ILI syndrome) Weather data …
  • Using the Emergency Medical Text Processor to Standardize Chief Complaints in Boston's Syndromic Surveillance System

    Content Type: Abstract

    Abbreviation, misspellings, and site specific terminology may misclassify chief complaints syndromes. The Emergency Medical Text Processor (EMT-P) is system that cleans emergency department chief complaints and returns standard terms.… read more
    … Abbreviation, misspellings, and site specific terminology may misclassify chief complaints syndromes. The Emergency … the Emergency Medical Text Processor to Standardize Chief Com- plaints in Boston’s Syndromic Surveillance System …
  • Syndromic Surveillance and Zip Code Data: The Role of Zip Codes in Understanding Populations

    Content Type: Abstract

    Syndromic surveillance systems use residential zip codes for spatial analysis to identify disease clusters. However, the use of emergency medical services can be influenced by geographic proximity, specialty services, and severity of illness. We… read more
    … to better understand how this type of spatial analysis may affect the sensitivity of syndromic surveillance. … Between January 28 and March 7, 2005, there were 47,973 visits to Boston EDs reported to the BPHC syndromic … Massachusetts. The proportion of Boston residents (n=26,560) who sought care at any particular site ranged from …
  • Meaningful Use: What it is and Why it matters

    Content Type: Webinar

    Expert panelists Art Davidson (Denver Health) and Julia Gunn (Boston Public Health Commission), whose respective organizations were 2009 Davies Awards recipients, gave a 30 minute webinar on Meaningful Use and electronic health record technology.… read more
    … gaining a better understanding of Meaningful Use, how it may impact their surveillance work, and how they can work … gaining a better understanding of Meaningful Use, how it may impact their surveillance work, and how they can work …
  • A Value-Driven Framework For The Evaluation Of Biosurveillance Systems

    Content Type: Abstract

    Evaluation and strengthening of biosurveillance systems is acomplex process that involves sequential decision steps, numerous stakeholders, and requires accommodating multiple and conflicting objectives. Biosurveillance evaluation, the initiating… read more
    … range of criteria leads to partial evaluations that may fail to convene sufficient support across the … range of criteria leads to partial evaluations that may fail to convene sufficient support across the …
  • Analysis of Syndrome Definitions for Gastrointestinal Illness with ICD9 Codes for Gastroenteritis during the 2006-07 Norovirus Season in Boston

    Content Type: Abstract

    We report on a retrospective analysis of gastrointestinal syndrome definitions based on chief complaints and ICD9 diagnosis for gastroenteritis during the 2006-07 season of increased norovirus activity.
    … departments (EDs) in the city of Boston. For each patient-visit, data collected includes date of visit, chief complaint, gender, zipcode of residence, age, … are analyzed for statistical aberrations in the number of visits using the Early Aberration Reporting System (EARSv3). …
  • Syndromic Surveillance in Support of an Urban Violence Intervention

    Content Type: Abstract

    Our objective was to adapt the city'­s syndromic surveillance system to help guide a violence intervention initiative in response to an upsurge in serious assaults and homicides in Boston.
    … summer of 2006. RESULTS In 2005, a total of 458,376 ED visits were reported by all 9 Boston acute care hospitals. Of the 458,376 visits, 4,177 were due to incidents of violence. 3,555 were … is typically received and ap- pended 2-14 days after the visit. Nevertheless, the system demonstrated a capacity to …