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Web-based Tracking and Surveillance

Syndromic Surveillance

This is an internet based disease surveillance system designed to detect unusual outbreaks of illness resulting from either naturally occurring or intentional events that pose potential public health threats and emergencies.

The system captures chief complaints of emergency department patients without any of the personal information attached to their visit. A sophisticated computer detection algorithms is run every hour and any unusual activity is automatically communicated to state level Epidemiologists for further investigation. Epidemiologists can analyze findings, investigate, and work with local public health and healthcare as warranted to ensure unusual activities or diseases are identified early and intervention strategies implemented. Michigan health care providers have seen the benefits of rapid detection and have participating in this project since 2003, thus elevating the state's overall disaster preparedness.


EMSystems

The tracking of available beds and resources during a mass casualty event is complex and must be handled in as near real time as possible. Hospitals in Michigan utilize this web-based system to manage in state resources and identify Hospital Available Beds for Emergencies and Disasters elements reported to the federal government during events such as the H1N1 response experienced in the spring of 2009.

EMSystems addresses the challenges of hospital emergency resource management such as bed availability, diversion status and ventilator capability. This tool is a critical component to the overall medical surge planning and response within Michigan. The system has been implemented statewide since 2006. Local, state and federal partners utilize EMSystems during exercises and real events responses.