ED monitoring network helps Maryland track epidemics

Just in time for flu season, Maryland likely has become the first state in the nation to have all of its hospital emergency departments agree to participate in an electronic early-warning system to help identify and mitigate public-health outbreaks. All 46 acute-care facilities in the state now are on board with the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics, or ESSENCE, a web-based reporting network developed by the Department of Defense to help detect bioterrorism, but now widely used by state public-health agencies.

ESSENCE allows state officials to keep track of primary symptoms--not necessarily diagnoses--of ED patients, offering insights to potential health risks such as the H1N1 virus. Patient identifiers are not transmitted. Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has two full-time epidemiologists to review all data that comes in via ESSENCE, and the department can bring in a consulting physician as needed.

Maryland also can monitor sales of over-the-counter drugs from about 280 pharmacies in the state, offering additional clues about emerging health issues. The state also is working on a link to schools to find patterns of absenteeism that could indicate an epidemic.

To learn more about ESSENCE and how Maryland is stepping up public-health vigilance:
- check out this Government Health IT story

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