Related Experiment Videos
Automated syndromic surveillance for the 2002 Winter Olympics
Per H Gesteland1, Reed M Gardner, Fu-Chiang Tsui
1University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA
|August 20, 2003
Summary
The Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) system was rapidly implemented for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, successfully monitoring over 114,000 health encounters without detecting significant public health outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Informatics
Background:
- The 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Utah occurred after significant bioterrorism threats.
- Enhanced public health surveillance was critical for national security during the event.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the rapid implementation of the Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) system.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the RODS system during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
Main Methods:
- The RODS system was deployed in Utah within seven weeks by informaticists and public health specialists.
- Over 114,000 acute care encounters were monitored from February 8 to March 31, 2002.
Main Results:
- The RODS system was successfully implemented and operational for the duration of the Games.
- No public health outbreaks of significant concern were detected during the surveillance period.
Conclusions:
- Rapid implementation of advanced disease surveillance systems is feasible under pressure.
- The RODS system proved effective in monitoring public health during a major international event.