Detecting Changes in Chief Complaint Word Count: Effects on Syndromic Surveillance

Authors

  • Jessica Sell NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Robert Mathes NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Marc Paladini NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4562

Abstract

Researchers at the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) analyzed trends in chief complaint (CC) word count from NYC emergency department (ED) data from 2008 - 2011 using change point analysis (CPA). CPA results were compared to known changes across the EDs. When CPA detected a significant change in CC word count, trends in syndrome count and syndrome breakdown into constituent symptoms were examined. A significant shift in CC word count may be indicative of a systematic change within an ED, which could affect the DOHMH's ability to categorize ED visits into syndromes.

Author Biography

Jessica Sell, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Jessica Sell is a graduate student intern with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, working within the Bureau of Communicable Diseases in the Data Analysis and Syndromic Surveillance Unit. She received her B.A. in Mathematics from Hunter College and an M.A. in Mathematics Education from City College in New York City. She attends New York Medical College, and will graduate in May 2013 with an MPH in Epidemiology.

Downloads

Published

2013-03-24

How to Cite

Sell, J., Mathes, R., & Paladini, M. (2013). Detecting Changes in Chief Complaint Word Count: Effects on Syndromic Surveillance. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4562

Issue

Section

Oral Presentations: Data Quality and Underlying Patterns in Data Streams