Emergency Department (ED) syndromic surveillance data for influenza-like illness (ILI) have been found to provide timely and representative information about current influenza activity in NYC. DOHMH monitors visits daily from 50 of 61 EDs, capturing about 94% of all ED visits in NYC. Since January 1, 2007, DOHMH has been receiving disposition data (e.g., hospitalized, discharged) from a subset of EDs. Currently, disposition data is received from 37 EDs (approximately 1/3 of all visits by the next day and >60% of all visits within 1 week).
More detailed hospitalization data, including date, demographics, and diagnosis on all NYC hospitalizations are routinely collected by the New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). SPARCS is subject to a 2-3 year reporting lag, thus limiting its timeliness and prospective use. However, SPARCS data from prior to January 1, 2007 can supplement the ED syndromic data to develop a model for ILI hospitalizations and calculate excess hospitalizations attributable to influenza that can be used in near realtime, particularly in the event of a pandemic.
Objective
To use ED syndromic surveillance data to monitor hospitalizations for ILI and calculate excess hospitalizations attributable to influenza.