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PHLIS: an electronic system for reporting public health data from remote sites
N H Bean1, S M Martin, H Bradford
1Biostatistics and Information Management Branch, Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA.
American Journal of Public Health
|September 11, 1992
Summary
The Public Health Laboratory Information System (PHLIS) reduces disease surveillance data lag time. This electronic system improves data accessibility and analysis for public health workers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Disease surveillance relies on data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state health departments.
- Current surveillance systems face limitations due to significant lag time between disease occurrence and data availability for analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an electronic reporting system to improve the timeliness and utility of disease surveillance data.
- To reduce the lag time in data availability for public health analysis and response.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Public Health Laboratory Information System (PHLIS), a PC-based electronic reporting system.
- PHLIS enables local data entry, editing, analysis, and electronic transmission to other agencies.
Main Results:
- PHLIS significantly reduces paper handling and lag time between disease incidents and data analysis.
- The system facilitates rapid examination of disease clusters, provides downloadable summary tables, and allows data editing at the input site.
- Enhanced data analysis capabilities and improved interaction among participants are key benefits.
Conclusions:
- The Public Health Laboratory Information System (PHLIS) enhances disease surveillance by providing timely and accessible data.
- PHLIS offers a cost-effective, transportable solution for improving public health data management and analysis.
- Implementation of PHLIS can lead to more efficient disease outbreak detection and response.