Download Emergency Department Data

4.2 Data Collection: ESSENCE data are automatically extracted (via a Secure File
Transfer Protocol) from participating surveillance site databases. For example, in an
emergency room, demographics, chief complaints and diagnosis data are all
automatically sent from a hospital’s information system to the ESSENCE server.
Data are grouped into syndromes and then analyzed, with warnings and alerts
produced based on statistical algorithms.
4.3 Confidentiality: Data collected in ESSENCE do not have identifiers, and access to
the data is limited to ensure security and confidentiality.
4.4 24/7 Coverage: Data are collected 24 hours a day, all days of the week. DHMH
Office of Preparedness and Response epidemiologists are available to receive alerts
by phone whenever they occur. The epidemiologists’ contract phone numbers are:
410-767-6745 and 410-767-2074
4.5 Testing 24/7 System: The availability of 24/7 contacts is tested on a quarterly basis
using call-down drills through the Maryland Health Alert Network (MD HAN) (See
Appendix B). All members of the DHMH Office of Preparedness & Response staff
are included in the call down drills, including the epidemiologists responsible for
24/7 coverage of the ESSENCE system (See 4.4).
4.6 Health Department Staff Alerts: The epidemiologists at DHMH are responsible for the
ESSENCE program review alerts daily, and if an ESSENCE alert is determined to
have public health significance, the appropriate individuals within DHMH and/or
local health departments are contacted for follow up. Alerts are conducted through
MD HAN. Members of senior staff at the Health Department, including the Health
Officer, Deputy Health Officer, Emergency Preparedness Director and Director of
Communicable Disease, receive real-time alerts from HAN.
4.7 Retrieving ESSENCE Data: The Harford County Health Department has one
username and password for accessing the web-based system
(https://essence.dhmh.maryland.gov/). This system provides the Health Department
with access to the following information:
• Alert lists
• Data queries
• Statistical analysis of data sets
• Reports in the form of maps, time-series charts and tables
HCHD Policy # ADMIN 00-08
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