BACKGROUND: Massachusetts is one of eighteen cities and states (e.g. CT, MA, NYC, NC, MN, SD, and ND) using the MAVEN disease surveillance and case management system. Although the core functionality of MAVEN is the same across jurisdictions, each jurisdiction has developed customizations of the system for their use. In 2012, Massachusetts first implemented the roster import function to enhance response to clusters/outbreaks. This enhances response to tracking cases and contacts through elimination of manually entered demographic and core cluster information. Specifically, the roster import function allows epidemiologists to quickly create contacts, link events, collect information, investigate, and perform analysis of clusters and other adverse events.
METHODS: MA activated MAVEN’s roster import capabilities to create and manage cases and contacts for epidemiologists to investigate potential exposures from a dialysis center with documented lapses in infection control practices in 2015. Epidemiologists conducted follow-up of approximately 800 potentially exposed patients. The initial line list of potentially exposed contacts available to investigators was in Excel format. Epidemiologists reformatted the list into a standard roster import field list. This list was imported, events created with appropriate case status and demographic information for each contact event, and then linked to a MAVEN cluster event. We used existing reports within MAVEN to track individual case investigation and follow-up of contacts.
RESULTS: The roster import functionality reduced resources and time required by saving approximately 40 hours of data entry time for creating 800 patient contacts into MAVEN.
CONCLUSIONS: The roster import functionality was successfully utilized for this cluster/outbreak allowing for a more efficient investigation by epidemiology staff. The roster import allowed for an electronic linkage between the cluster event and individual contacts. Future evaluations should monitor the impact on timeliness of response and capacity to improve tracking and case management of our contacts during cluster investigations.