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BACKGROUND:
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) epidemiologists and microbiologists collaborated to develop customized report cards for ILINET providers. The primary goals for these reports cards were to visually present individual sites with their own reporting and submission performance over the last three influenza seasons and to explain right size influenza surveillance expectations for the 2013-14 season. Following the distribution of the customized reports, feedback was gathered to determine if these reports would impact future reporting and specimen submitting performance. Lessons learned from the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inspired this right size surveillance project.
METHODS:
A 5-color system was used to assign rankings for how well sites reported data and submitted specimens. These two rankings were then summarized into one overall level of achievement. After the reports were disseminated, a survey was sent to all ILINET sites to capture feedback and anticipated individual behavior changes.
The report contained
- Influenza reporting and specimen submission performance for past 3 seasons
- A graph and table showing total ILI patient visits.
- A cumulative graph of the number of specimens submitted to the Laboratory per week
- Site-specific graph comparing facility’s rapid test results and ISDH PCR results
- Table detailing average specimen transport time
- Graph of all other respiratory viruses detected from submitted specimens
RESULTS:
Most sites needed to increase their weekly specimen submissions. According to the survey, approximately 86% of sites indicated they would increase their specimen submission after reading the report. Report cards were sent 10/22/13 and since then at least 72% of sites have submitted specimens every week.
Twenty-four out of the forty two (57%) ILINET sites responded to the report card feedback survey. From the 23/24 survey responses indicated that the report was informative, helpful, interesting, only one indicated that it was too complicated. The sites were also asked if they will increase reporting to the CDC website after reading their report. Forty three percent indicated changes were not needed, 36% indicated that they would increase reporting, and 21% indicated no behavior change.
CONCLUSIONS: The ISDH customized report card project has increased the ILINET sites awareness of reporting and submitting specimens. The individualized report cards required a significant time commitment and collaboration between ISDH epidemiology and laboratory divisions. The quality of communication provided to the ILINET site and the development of a strategic method to track reporting and specimen submission have improved specimen submissions.