Applying the XForms Standard to Public Health Case Reporting and Alerting

Abstract

Notifiable condition reporting and alerting are two important public health functions. Today, a variety of methods are used to transfer these types of information. The increasing use of electronic health record systems by healthcare providers makes new types of electronic communication possible. We used the XForms standard and nationally recognized technical profiles to demonstrate the communication of both notifiable condition reports and patient-tailored public health alerts. This demonstration of bi-directional communication took placein a prototypical health information exchange environment. We successfully transferred information between provider electronic health record systems and public health systems for notifiable condition reporting. Patient-specific alerts were successfully sent from public health to provider systems. In this paper we discuss the benefits of XForms, including the use of XML, advanced form controls, form initialization and reduction in scripting. We also review implementation challenges, the maturity of the technology and its suitability for use in public health.

Android and ODK based data collection framework to aid in epidemiological analysis

“…In addition to this, though it is not a defined standard used in healthcare right now, there is an increasing adaptation of Xforms in the industry [1]. …”

“…In recent years, the Center for disease control and prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Council for state and territorial epidemiologists (CSTE) have proposed a model for the exchange, sharing and retrieval of notifiable condition reporting from an electronic health record [1]. This suggests that electronic notifiable condition reporting may soon be feasible at larger scales.…”

“…This information is not only used to target interventions and start investigations of a disease, but also for alerting the public on possible outbreaks and guide them through essential preventive measures. The bi-directional communication allows for higher chances to control a disease [ 1 ].…”

Coordination, Communication, and Clade X: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Health Emergency Exercise After-Action Reports and How They Can Help Guide Future Efforts to Improve Information Sharing

“…One of the many lasting legacies of the 9/11 attacks and anthrax mailings in 2001 is how it highlighted the need for better preparedness, coordination, communication, and countermeasures development in the US (Annas 2002). The 2001 response to the anthrax attacks relied heavily on the use of electronic communications systems; however, the effectiveness of message coverage suffered due to a lack of contact information, old email addresses, and incomplete registries (Hills et al 2011). Over the last decade, actors involved in public health emergency preparedness have developed and revised emergency operations plans, acquired new technology for information sharing, hired additional personnel, and enhanced training programs.…”

“…One strategy is to improve the consistency of health messages by reducing the level of redundancy, as research found that during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009-2010 health care providers became desensitized to information because of an excess of alerts. Hills et al (2011) also note that information needs to be provided in an orderly manner to avoid alert fatigue.…”