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Abstract
Disease surveillance is a critical component of the ten essential public health services. State laws or regulations mandate notifiable disease reporting and require healthcare providers, hospitals, and laboratories to report to health departments. Although public health surveillance is shifting toward electronic reporting, health departments face challenges in engaging stakeholders and maintaining adequate resources to receive and manage the reports received through electronic laboratory reporting (ELR). ELR requires significant investment by public health and hospital facility staff to ensure all the data needed to complete a case report are transmitted despite the efficiency of electronic submissions. Furthermore, electronic reporting has resulted in an increased volume of information received by health departments, often including duplicate laboratory reports.
The primary research objectives of the evaluation were to 1) describe and evaluate ELR data received in Georgia statewide, including an assessment of timeliness, completeness, and geographic differences in laboratory reporting, and 2) identify barriers, challenges, and successes associated with ELR adoption.
To evaluate the first objective, ELRs and surveillance data from 2017 to 2021 were analyzed for timeliness, demographic completeness, and geographic differences. To evaluate the second objective, a survey was administered to stakeholders in 2022 to assess their awareness about notifiable disease reporting, ELR capabilities, and resource needs.While the adoption of electronic reporting increased between 2017 and 2021, the number of reports received and case reports created electronically has remained steady. In addition, the timeliness and completeness of electronic reports could be improved. Despite support for electronic reporting, barriers and challenges exist to electronic reporting, including workload and availability of IT support.
With finite resources to support ELR reporters, outreach needs to be prioritized. In addition, improved support for IT staff and training may strengthen electronic reporting.
The primary research objectives of the evaluation were to 1) describe and evaluate ELR data received in Georgia statewide, including an assessment of timeliness, completeness, and geographic differences in laboratory reporting, and 2) identify barriers, challenges, and successes associated with ELR adoption.
To evaluate the first objective, ELRs and surveillance data from 2017 to 2021 were analyzed for timeliness, demographic completeness, and geographic differences. To evaluate the second objective, a survey was administered to stakeholders in 2022 to assess their awareness about notifiable disease reporting, ELR capabilities, and resource needs.While the adoption of electronic reporting increased between 2017 and 2021, the number of reports received and case reports created electronically has remained steady. In addition, the timeliness and completeness of electronic reports could be improved. Despite support for electronic reporting, barriers and challenges exist to electronic reporting, including workload and availability of IT support.
With finite resources to support ELR reporters, outreach needs to be prioritized. In addition, improved support for IT staff and training may strengthen electronic reporting.