EHR-based ILI surveillance was accurate, timely, occurred at the majority of IHS facilities nationwide, and provided useful information for decision makers. EHRs thus offer the opportunity to transform public health surveillance.

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BACKGROUND:Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction with significant risk for children with allergies. Access to potentially life-saving medication is critical for these children. This review aims to describe state laws and policies guiding stock epinephrine in schools for allergic or anaphylactic events and detail recommendations for best practices. METHODS:This paper is a comprehensive review of the 50 states and the District of Columbia's (DC) laws and policies for stock epinephrine at schools for children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.RESULTS: All 50 states and DC allow undesignated epinephrine in schools to use for allergic or anaphylactic reactions. A key difference arises in whether states allow (N = 37) or mandate (N = 14) that schools stock epinephrine. States exhibit differences in the body responsible for developing stock epinephrine policy (N = 48), along with stakeholders responsible for developing procedures (N = 30) and implementing them (N = 19). Differences also exist in state epinephrine procurement, administration, training, and liability. CONCLUSIONS:This review of stock epinephrine laws and policies highlights the significant variation in state legislation despite widespread adoption. Only one-quarter of states mandate that schools have stock epinephrine available for emergency use, underscoring need for a more unified approach with consistent guidelines, comprehensive training, and possible funding for implementation.

Sodium reduction strategies on a population-based level are promoted as a public health intervention. Small and rural hospitals in Illinois were funded to adopt sodium reduction strategies as an intervention, have their hospital cafeteria and vending machines assessed via an environmental scan, and participate in an evaluation. Intervention strategies to identify and to label lower-sodium foods were implemented most, and pricing strategies were implemented least among funded hospitals. The sodium reduction strategies implemented could be replicated in other small and rural hospitals, because they were done with minimal funding and with minimal barriers.

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