Leveraging data visualization and a statewide health information exchange to support COVID-19 surveillance and response: Application of public health informatics

Abstract

Objective To support public health surveillance and response to COVID-19 through rapid development and implementation of novel visualization applications for data amalgamated across sectors. Materials and methods We developed and implemented population-level dashboards that collate information on individuals tested for and infected with COVID-19, in partnership with state and local public health agencies as well as health systems. The dashboards are deployed on top of a statewide health information exchange. One dashboard enables authorized users working in public health agencies to surveil populations in detail, and a public version provides higher-level situational awareness to inform ongoing pandemic response efforts in communities. Results Both dashboards have proved useful informatics resources. For example, the private dashboard enabled detection of a local community outbreak associated with a meat packing plant. The public dashboard provides recent trend analysis to track disease spread and community-level hospitalizations. Combined, the tools were utilized 133,637 times by 74,317 distinct users between June 21 and August 22, 2020. The tools are frequently cited by journalists and featured on social media. Discussion Capitalizing on a statewide health information exchange, in partnership with health system and public health leaders, Regenstrief biomedical informatics experts rapidly developed and deployed informatics tools to support surveillance and response to COVID-19. Conclusion The application of public health informatics methods and tools in Indiana holds promise for other states and nations. Yet development of infrastructure and partnerships will require effort and investment after the current pandemic in preparation for the next public health emergency.

The synchronicity of COVID-19 disparities: Statewide epidemiologic trends in SARS-CoV-2 morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality among racial minorities and in rural America

“…We use data from multiple sources integrated into the Regenstrief Institute COVID-19 Dashboard [19], a data visualization tool developed in response to the pandemic that leverages clinical and administrative health data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC) [20]. The INPC is one of the nation's largest health information networks, which includes 38 distinct health systems representing more than 100 hospitals, commercial laboratories, and physician practices across Indiana [21].…”

The COVID-19 health equity twindemic: Statewide epidemiologic trends of SARS-CoV-2 outcomes among racial minorities and in rural America

“…These methods would not be possible without a robust electronic data infrastructure in Indiana aided by a 16+ year health information exchange[23] that partnered with the state health department, county health departments, and health care systems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [16] This multi-sector approach aligns with the vision set forth by the Public Health 3.0 framework described by DeSalvo et al[24, 25]…”

“…We use data from multiple sources integrated into the Regenstrief Institute COVID-19 Dashboard,[15] a data visualization tool developed in response to the pandemic that leverages clinical and administrative health data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC). [16] The INPC is one of the nation’s largest health information networks, which includes 38 distinct health systems representing more than 100 hospitals, commercial laboratories, and physician practices across Indiana. [17] The INPC further includes COVID-19 test results from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), which receives test results from large commercial labs contracted for pandemic response as well as local health departments which perform strategic testing in communities identified as high risk, such as nursing homes, prisons, and homeless shelters.…”

Developments in healthcare information systems in Ireland and internationally

“…The study also noted that hospitals may report to both local and state public health agencies, which may have different capabilities in relation to handling data. This resulted in academic and newsgroup-based data sources being relied on in the absence of a uniform government standard for tracing outbreaks of COVID-19 (Dixon et al, 2021;Wissel et al, 2020).…”