Comparing Disease Surveillance Programs: SSG, Maven, Clinisys, and EpiTrax
Comparing Disease Surveillance Programs: SSG, Maven, Clinisys, and EpiTrax
As the public health landscape evolves, disease surveillance programs have become increasingly vital for tracking the spread of diseases and safeguarding communities. These programs collect, analyze, and help interpret data to identify potential outbreaks and ensure timely interventions.
With the rise of new technologies, several software solutions have emerged to support public health agencies in managing critical data more efficiently. Below, we compare four leading disease surveillance systems, discussing their unique features and capabilities that cater to the diverse needs of public health organizations.
Understanding the Importance of Disease Surveillance Programs
Disease surveillance involves the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data regarding the occurrence of diseases in a population. It serves as a vital tool for understanding the health status of a community, identifying and responding to public health threats, and informing decision-making processes for timely interventions.
Disease surveillance systems collect data from multiple sources, including hospitals, laboratories, and healthcare providers, to support data-driven decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, these systems provided critical insights into the spread of the virus, helping public health agencies allocate resources, understand patterns and risk factors, and guide policy decisions.
Beyond public health emergencies, disease surveillance programs also help monitor chronic diseases, emerging threats, and other essential health indicators. According to the World Health Organization, “an effective disease surveillance system is essential to detecting disease outbreaks quickly before they spread, cost lives, and become difficult to control (WHO, n.d.).”
Comparative Overview: SSG vs. Maven, Clinisys, and EpiTrax
Disease surveillance software is designed to streamline data collection, analysis, and dissemination. These solutions offer a range of functionalities that enhance the efficiency and impact of the programs they serve.
Here’s an overview of some leading disease surveillance systems:
Maven
Maven is an automated disease surveillance and outbreak management solution that facilitates timely and accurate collaboration across healthcare organizations and epidemiologists to contain the spread of diseases, manage contact tracing, and better understand public health data.
Its key features include the following:
- Configurable Contact Tracing: Maven allows health agencies to configure parameters for disease-specific contact tracing. This flexibility helps ensure the tracing process is tailored to each disease’s unique transmission dynamics and control measures.
- Automated Case Management: The platform supports automated case management for confirmed cases, suspects, and contacts. This includes tracking patient interactions, monitoring symptoms, and managing follow-up activities.
The platform also includes geocoding and geographic information system (GIS) tools that help visualize the spread of diseases. These tools enable public health officials to identify hotspots and track the geographic distributions of cases and contacts.
Clinisys
Clinisys (formerly Sunquest) is a leading provider of laboratory information systems, offering flexible solutions that help run efficient, compliant, and successful lab operations across healthcare, environment, toxicology, pharma, and biotech.
Its key features include the following:
- Platform Architecture: Clinisys features shared services architecture, which allows different laboratory information management systems (LIMS) to share common services and data models. This architecture enhances efficiency and reduces redundancy.
- Configurable Workflows: The same architecture allows Clinisys users to configure custom workflows, add new capabilities, and customize the external web portal for client self-service account management.
These primary features allow laboratories to design processes that align with their unique operational requirements and quickly respond to new challenges and opportunities.
EpiTrax
Epitrax is an open-source, cloud-based surveillance and outbreak management application that helps local and state public health agencies identify, investigate, and mitigate diseases and outbreaks.
Its key features include the following:
- Comprehensive Disease Management: EpiTrax supports both communicable and noncommunicable disease surveillance, enabling seamless data consolidation from local and state health departments for case investigations, outbreak management, and reporting to the Centers for Disease Surveillance and Prevention (CDC).
- Automated Data Processing: EpiTrax’s Electronic Message Staging Area (EMSA) automates the parsing and translation of electronic lab and case reports, applying rule sets to streamline case management. It helps ensure timely case updates and allows for retrospective analysis of previously received but now relevant data.
According to Rachelle Boulton, Utah’s Division of Population Health Informatics Program Manager, “EpiTrax allows them to centralize all electronic data collection for electronic lab records and electronic case reports at the state level (PHII, n.d.),” lauding the platform’s invaluable boost to the overall operational efficiency of partner agencies.
Key Features of SSG’s Disease Surveillance Software
The Casetivity Electronic Disease Surveillance System (DSS), Casetivity-DSS, enhances the accuracy and timeliness of disease surveillance in public health by enabling users to streamline day-to-day operations while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to evolving program requirements.
We help our partners achieve these through the following key features:
- Interoperability: The system features a standards-based API (Application Programming Interface), ensuring consistency, compatibility, and interoperability across different software systems while facilitating data exchange, feature sharing, and functionality integration. This allows Casetivity-DSS to integrate with various healthcare systems, creating a unified information ecosystem where data can flow effortlessly across different platforms.
- Modular Design: Casetivity’s modular design allows organizations to build, reconfigure, and modify applications as needs change. This feature significantly shortens the time to solution and guarantees scalability and sustainability.
- Data Cleansing and Standardization: Casetivity-DSS automatically cleanses and standardizes data, ensuring that all information is accurate and consistent. This feature is crucial when dealing with data from multiple sources, such as labs and healthcare providers.
Casetivity-DSS also features customizable dashboards and reporting tools that allow organizations to tailor the system to specific program needs, helping users focus on information and functionalities that matter most to them.
Why SSG’s Disease Surveillance Software Could Be the Ideal Choice
While our peers offer specialized solutions focused on specific areas of disease surveillance, such as contact tracing and lab data management, Casetivity-DSS provides a comprehensive suite of features designed to deliver holistic public health responses.
Our public health partners use Casetivity-DSS for:
- Cluster and Outbreak Management
- Case Management
- Contact Tracing
- Electronic Lab Reporting
- Follow-Up Care Management
- Automated Lab Result Data Exchange
Casetivity-DSS is ideal for public health agencies that prioritize flexibility and adaptability. Its low-code architecture ensures quick implementation with minimal operational disruptions. Whether managing chronic disease data or responding to infectious disease outbreaks, our platform provides all the tools you need to deliver the benefits of disease surveillance to your communities.
How to Choose the Best Disease Surveillance Solution for Your Needs
Understanding your program requirements and organizational needs is the most crucial consideration when selecting a disease surveillance system. From there, you can narrow your options to service providers with the experience, expertise, and features to help you achieve your goals and objectives.
Contact us today to discuss your program requirements and discover how our public health software solutions can modernize your operations.
References:
- World Health Organization (n.d.). Surveillance in emergencies. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/surveillance
- Public Health Informatics Institute (n.d.). Utah’s open-source surveillance system paves the way for data modernization. Retrieved from https://phii.org/data-modernization-initiative/dmi-stories/utah-epitrax/#:~:text=The%20benefits%20of%20EpiTrax%20include%20improved%20speed%20and%20convenience%20of,receiving%20messages%20in%20different%20formats.