Lab Matters Fall 2022 | Page 72

APHL 2022 POSTER ABSTRACTS
Newborn Screening / Preparedness & Response funding for pilots and implementation of NBS HL7 electronic testing orders and results . Key components to this work include :
• Online Validation , allowing HL7 providers a process to test new NBS orders or changes to their orders using an online validation tool .
• Inline Validation , validating data sent from NBS order providers , and rejecting data if the data does not meet syntactical or when possible , data quality standards .
• Dashboard , enabling the ability to capture metrics that can be used to gain information about the system ’ s users , throughput , reporting , etc . The Dashboard is used to monitor the health of the NBS processes , and to provide alerts and notifications .
• Alerts and Notifications , assessing and implementing alerts and notifications when infrastructure supporting the HL7 processing workflow fails .
• Long-term benefits of this work include leveraging technology and interoperability to increase efficiency , reduced manual intervention and costs , improved data quality and reliability of our processing
• Infrastructure , and better management and oversight of both the system ’ s usage and performance .
Most importantly , mothers and newborn infants will benefit from the modernization and improved interoperability within a state ’ s newborn screening program with improved data accuracy and reduction in time to report . Potential barriers for providers include IT costs and required nurse training for altered procedures or workflow necessitated by the electronic ordering . However , these concessions will ultimately result in significant , yearly recurring savings for their facilities as well as timely treatment decisions .
Presenter : Juan Vasquez , Ruvos , jvaszuez @ ruvos . com
PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
Implementing Electronic Laboratory Reporting for the Laboratory Response Network for Biological and Chemical Threats Preparedness
R Rahmat , Association of Public Health Laboratories
The reception of timely , accurate , complete and consistent laboratory data is instrumental in how effectively and efficiently public health responds to emerging threats . This is particularly important for members of the Laboratory Response Network ( LRN ), who respond to biological , chemical , and radiological threats with coordinated effort . Electronic data exchange systems support the LRN by ensuring that laboratory data , including test results and proficiency data , can be transmitted securely in real time . One system LRN laboratories use to transmit data is through electronic laboratory reporting ( ELR ). ELR is advantageous compared to other electronic data exchange systems as it reduces the manual entry burden and thus leads to fewer errors , streamlines data requirements so less data needs to be reported , and maximizes both data volume and quality during surge events . ELR utilizes Health Level 7 ( HL7 ) messaging as it offers guidelines and standardization for laboratories to uniformly communicate with the
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). Furthermore , ELR is compatible with HL7 messages used by other programs . Since 2019 , the Association of Public Health Laboratories ( APHL ) and CDC have collaborated to assist LRN laboratories with ELR implementation . This funding is open to all public health LRN member laboratories to cover laboratory staff time , vendor staff time , vendor implementation costs , and any other costs directly associated with implementation . To date , more than $ 850,000 has been provided to LRN laboratories to support ELR implementation . Eight LRN for Biological Threats Preparedness ( LRN-B ) laboratories have completed implementation while five labs are currently implementing . Seven LRN for Chemical Threats Preparedness ( LRN-C ) laboratories have completed implementation while one is in-progress this fiscal year . In addition to these laboratories that were funded to complete the ELR implementation , about nine laboratories are implementing without funding assistance . Through their support of coordinated electronic data exchange systems such as ELR , APHL and CDC strive to strengthen public health laboratories ’ capabilities in responding to and reporting biological and chemical threats .
Presenter : Rana Rahmat , Association of Public Health Laboratories , rana . rahmat @ aphl . org
Implementation of an Inventory Management System to Build Emergency Preparedness for COVID-19 and Future Outbreaks
S Patel 1 , A Patel 2 , S Ferro 3 , J Vora 1 , J Shaji 1 , J Mulligan 1 , A Oyelade 1 , H Hergert 1 , S Mikorski 1 , D Woell 1 , J Ochal 1 , M Ellethy 1 , R Finney 1 , R Siderits 1 , T Kirn 1 ; New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories , 2 Rutgers School of Public Health , 3 University of Memphis School of Public Health
Objective : The NJDOH PHEL has implemented a simple , costeffective system for the management of materials for distribution to health care facilities and congregated living settings , such as specimen collection materials , PPE , and rapid tests . During the pandemic , the PHEL initially faced challenges in acquiring adequate supplies and assuring acceptable quality of materials . Over the past two years , the funding and demand has since increased , highlighting the importance of efficient emergency preparedness , inventory control , and providing situational awareness for leadership . This same awareness and emergency management system currently used in the PHEL could also be applied to other departments within the NJDOH and providing similar gains .
Methods : Using Microsoft forms , effective outreach was performed , providing insight on the perspectives of various external organizations such as the NJ State Police , Acute Care Hospitals , Commercial Laboratories , Long term care facilities and several others . Predictive data analytics of material orders has been used to find and target regions that are hot-spot locations and distribute testing or collection materials based on need . Use of the Outreach Technology Center to disseminate educational information and materials to at-risk or vulnerable populations , ethnic enclaves , and cultural nexus points .
Results : Organizations working with vulnerable or at-risk populations have had all specimen collection and transport needs completely handled by the NJDOH for several months . Approximately 14.3 million specimen collection resources were distributed to the various
70
LAB MATTERS Fall 2022