NSSP Update – October 2023
A Technical Newsletter for the NSSP Community of Practice | October 2023
The National Syndromic Surveillance Program issues NSSP Update monthly to share the latest Community of Practice activities, technical and program updates, and ways in which syndromic surveillance is improving public health.
CDC
Protect Yourself from COVID-19, Flu, and RSV
See the new Weekly Viral Respiratory Illness Snapshot that summarizes key viral respiratory illness findings.
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE UPDATES
Update on Policy for Federal Access to NSSP Data ▪ Jurisdiction Overviews ▪ Syndromic Surveillance for Behavioral Health
CSTE
It’s Time to Plan for the 4th Annual Syndromic Surveillance Symposium
Join us at the 4th Annual Syndromic Surveillance Symposium. Engage with experts who influence the future of surveillance. Join us virtually December 5–7, 2023. Register by November 20, 2023.
SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE IN ACTION
Montana Public Health Practitioners Work with Law Enforcement to Reduce Harm from Opioids
TECHNICAL UPDATES
More than 50 people attended the October 4, 2023, Data Validation Call. The topics discussed were: Complications after August Update and Onboarding of Various Facility Types.
DATA QUALITY CORNER
The Case of the Missing Chief Complaint
Sometimes uncovering the truth about data is a challenge. Sometimes it’s a true mystery. This whodunit will guide your search for clues as to why Chief Complaint can have low completeness by visit and suggests several ways to fix the problem.
TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS AND STANDARDS
New Manuals on Data Quality Dashboard and Access & Management Center
Check out our Onboarding Resources, Job Aids, User Manuals, Quick Start Guides, and Data Dictionaries
HOW NSSP WORKS ACROSS CDC
COVID-19 is a Public Health Priority CDC Continues to Monitor
NSSP data and algorithms are used to detect trends and monitor effectiveness of prevention and control strategies.
TECHNICAL TIPS AND TRAINING
Tips for Using Free-Text Queries to Improve ESSENCE Search Criteria
Here’s how free-text queries work when some fields are BLANK and others NULL.
NSSP WEBSITE
New to Syndromic Surveillance?
For new site admins, we have a job aid for easing into your new role. New staff? Read “Tips for Engaging Staff.” New to NSSP? Check out these resources to learn about syndromic surveillance, especially the new training series titled Introduction to Syndromic Surveillance Methodology.
NSSP FACILITY PARTICIPATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Check Out the Updated Laboratory Data FAQs
We explain NSSP’s agreement with a national lab, data flow and frequency, health conditions covered, specimen identifiers, and more.
Monthly National-level Free-text ESSENCE Queries
Analysts can exercise a high level of customization by using free-text queries. They can quickly code free-text queries and rapidly respond to outbreaks, disasters, and health events that unfold. These word clouds capture free-text queries from a national perspective.
Developing Syndrome Definitions
NSSP works with health departments, CDC programs, and others to develop and improve syndrome definitions. Here is a list of the syndromes being worked on now.
Mark Your Calendar
