Estimating Increased Electronic Laboratory Reporting Volumes for Meaningful Use: Implications for the Public Health Workforce

Authors

  • Brian E Dixon 1 School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 2 Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA 3 Center for Health Information and Communication, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service CIN 13-416, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
  • P Joseph Gibson Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indianapolis, IN, USA
  • Shaun J Grannis School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i3.4939

Abstract

Objective: To provide formulas for estimating notifiable disease reporting volume from ‘meaningful use’ electronic laboratory reporting (ELR).

Methods: We analyzed two years of comprehensive ELR reporting data from 15 metropolitan hospitals and laboratories. Report volumes were divided by population counts to derive generalizable estimators.

Results: Observed volume of notifiable disease reports in a metropolitan area were more than twice national averages. ELR volumes varied by institution type, bed count, and by the level of effort required of health department staff.

Conclusions: Health departments may experience a significant increase in notifiable disease reporting following efforts to fulfill meaningful use requirements, resulting in increases in workload that may further strain public health resources. Volume estimators provide a method for predicting ELR transaction volumes, which may support administrative planning in health departments.

Author Biographies

Brian E Dixon, 1 School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 2 Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA 3 Center for Health Information and Communication, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service CIN 13-416, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Dr. Dixon’s research focuses on improving clinical and public health decision-making through innovative processes and technologies that provide comprehensive information on patient and population health. Recent work includes leveraging clinical and administrative data in a health information exchange to improve public health reporting processes, disability determination, surveillance activities, continuity of care for Veterans, and community assessment. Dr. Dixon’s research also involves the evolution of information infrastructure as well as data quality to support continuous use of clinical data in support of efforts to improve health care quality, safety, and efficiency.

Before joining the faculty at Indiana University, Dr. Dixon managed research and development projects for Regenstrief and the Indiana Health Information Exchange.  Dr. Dixon also developed health information applications and systems, including tools supporting the standard clinical vocabulary LOINC®, technology supporting the automated reporting of notifiable conditions to public health agencies, and tools for querying large clinical data repositories.

Shaun J Grannis, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Associate Professor of Family Medicine

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Published

2014-01-13

How to Cite

Dixon, B. E., Gibson, P. J., & Grannis, S. J. (2014). Estimating Increased Electronic Laboratory Reporting Volumes for Meaningful Use: Implications for the Public Health Workforce. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i3.4939

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Section

Original Articles