Evaluation of Heat-related Illness Surveillance Based on Chief Complaint Data from New Jersey Hospital Emergency Rooms

Authors

  • Michael Berry NJDOH, Trenton, NJ|
  • Jerald Fagliano NJDOH, Trenton, NJ|
  • Stella Tsai NJDOH, Trenton, NJ|
  • Katharine McGreevy NJDOH, Trenton, NJ|
  • Andrew Walsh Health Monitoring Systems, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA|
  • Teresa Hamby NJDOH, Trenton, NJ|

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4438

Abstract

The NJ Department of Health‰Ûªs syndromic surveillance system developed an algorithm to categorize heat-related illness (HRI) based on a patient‰Ûªs chief complaint during an emergency room visit, then matched these data with subsequent Uniform Billing (UB) diagnosis data. The overall sensitivity of the algorithm was 16% and the positive predictive value was 40%. Evaluation of a major heat event found both the sensitivity and positive predictive value increased to about 23% and 60%, respectively. While the HRI algorithm was relatively insensitive, sensitivity improved during major heat events and all excursions in HRI were identified using chief complaint data.

Author Biography

Teresa Hamby, NJDOH, Trenton, NJ|

Teresa Hamby, MSPH. Teresa is a data analyst on the surveillance staff of the Communicable Disease Service of the New Jersey Department of Health. She has extensive experience working with New Jersey's emergency department surveillance data and provides technical expertise for surveillance activities within CDS and for the Department.

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Published

2013-03-23

How to Cite

Berry, M., Fagliano, J., Tsai, S., McGreevy, K., Walsh, A., & Hamby, T. (2013). Evaluation of Heat-related Illness Surveillance Based on Chief Complaint Data from New Jersey Hospital Emergency Rooms. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4438

Issue

Section

Poster Presentations