National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS ...

PHASE II Task 3 Deliverable
National Electronic Data Surveillance System (NEDSS) Plan
Phase II Task 3
e-Business Plan
I. Executive Summary
E-business query and report generation functions are being developed as part of the National
Electronic Data Surveillance System (NEDSS). Using an on-line web browser, clinical
laboratories and providers will transmit laboratory results, integrated through NEDSS, to the
State of Maine Bureau of Health, who then transmits these data to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). Out of state reference labs processing Maine specimens will
transmit results directly to CDC which in turn will transmit results to Maine. These new e-
business functions will then allow public health agencies, health services agencies, and providers
across the state to directly access the NEDSS data through the web browser to perform specific
queries of the data and to create ad hoc reports specifically requested by the user. Selective,
confidential, querying and messaging functions will be available for authorized users to extend
the use of NEDSS data, linked to demographic and disease data, to provide integrated reports of
patient demographics, laboratory results, and disease history and outcomes. Authorized users
will have access to their own provider-specific data as warranted, as well as to statewide
aggregated data that has not existed previously. These e-business query and reporting functions
will allow public health agencies to more closely monitor, report, and manage disease-specific
prevalence and incidence rates, plus prevention and treatment programs. These e-business
functions can provide improved quality assurance through early detection, improved agencyfield
communication; best practices analyses, and cost-effectiveness analyses of clinical
providers, clinical treatment modalities, and patient and community outcomes.
II. Business Requirements
The National Electronic Data Surveillance System (NEDSS) is a cooperative partnership
between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many public health entities
to integrate previously disparate data collection and reporting systems into a secure, integrated
environment. The system was developed to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness
of public health-related surveillance, monitoring, analysis, identification, and management
concerning various diseases detected through a variety of clinical laboratory procedures, as well
as to serve as a basis for public health policy at multiple levels of government. The system is
intended to involve the CDC, state and local public health departments, health care provider and
service organizations, health care product vendors, and health care standards organizations.
Data are currently provided to the Maine Bureau of Health (BOH) by hospital laboratories, the
state Public Health Laboratory, and reference laboratories throughout the State of Maine.
Current data processes include the collection, verification, storage repository, and reporting
functions as the data are transmitted to the CDC in Atlanta. The required system elements
involving data collection and security are discussed previously in the National Electronic Data
Surveillance System (NEDSS) Overview (PHRG, May 18, 2001). The Maine Bureau of Health
will maintain the integrated data repository, which will communicate through specific software
with the clinical database, the CDC, the state and other public health agencies, clinical sites
(providing electronic laboratory messages), Geographic Information System (GIS) and other
demographic and clinical disease data mapping and statistical reports, and the Health Personnel
PHRG 1 of 5
September 28, 2001