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EMR disease system tested
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 5, 2008
Researchers at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Medical School, Atrius Health and the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health have created computer programs that use electronic medical records to detect and report contagious illnesses.
A pilot of the system, called the Electronic Medical Record Support for Public Health, or ESP, was installed at Atrius Health, a multispecialty practice with 30 locations in Eastern Massachusetts, in January 2007.
Researchers said they found the system substantially increased both the number of reported infections and the completeness of information sent to the health department.
Alfred DeMaria Jr., MD, director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control at the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, said in a statement that despite the increased use of EMRs, disease reporting is still frequently done by paper. "ESP offers the promise of more rapid detection of threats to the public health. This would allow faster action to prevent further transmission of infection."
The system is designed to report seven infections: active tuberculosis, acute hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, acute hepatitis C, Chlamydia, gonorrhea and pelvic inflammatory disease. The research team is working to develop methods to detect and report additional infections.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/05/bibf0505.htm.
