National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS ...

PHASE II Task 3 Deliverable
of the system to include other BOH databases. If the increase is sufficiently large, it could
necessitate changes in system architecture to accommodate the increased user demand. While
system architectural changes and programming could be costly, the alternative of decreased user
service through increased processing time, an insufficient number of data ports to support user
access, and/or diminished public health responses resulting from the inefficient and ineffective
utilization of the query and reporting functions are significantly more unacceptable and must be
avoided.
V. Interdependencies
Through the Maine Bureau of Health, NEDSS data will be linked to other databases and to a
network of providers and public health agencies. Thus, BOH works with the various provider
and public health organizations in developing procedures and policies for data collection
security, and access. These provider and public health entities rely on this web-based access
(read only format) for accurate and timely data that can be incorporated, through the e-business
functions, into reports and other information (e.g., Health Advisory Notices) for dissemination to
these various entities to protect the public health and to effectively manage public health
programs and provider practices. As such, each government, provider, and public health entity
shares responsibility for data accuracy, the appropriate and ethical use of the data, and the
responsible public health, clinical, and managerial application of the resulting data-derived
information.
VI. Organizational Structure
The e-business query and reporting functions are incorporated under NEDSS, and therefore
housed under the Maine Bureau of Health organizational design. Management authority and
responsibility for the technical components and data elements will lie with the Division of
Disease Control (DDC). The DHS Department of Technical Services (DOTS), a key stakeholder,
will play an advisory role in the development of the system so that it can communicate as
appropriate with current and planned systems and technology.
VII. Leadership and Governance
As noted above, structural and programmatic responsibility for NEDSS resides with the Division
of Disease Control, Maine Bureau of Health. This arrangement provides for the data
development and access to the data by the community of users, but it does not address the issues
surrounding the e-business query and reporting functions for the user community.
In addition to the monitoring of system usage provided by DDC and BOH, the e-business
functions require an additional layer of leadership and governance to address management and
public health issues. To ensure effective, responsible, and equitable use of the data and their
resultant reports developed by the user community, the Maine BOH should establish an NEDSS
Advisory Council, comprised of representatives from the various stakeholder and user
community constituents. Members could include representatives from the Bureau of Health,
laboratory providers, clinical providers, hospitals, legislators, public citizens, and other
stakeholders. Terms could be staggered, with a chairperson designated from the members,
possibly rotating to different member constituents. The Advisory Council could be responsible
for providing general direction and representation issues, developing data access and
dissemination policies, reviewing requests for collecting additional data, benchmarking and
PHRG 4 of 5
September 28, 2001