Reciprocal Data Sharing: Sending Monthly Summary Reports of Syndromic Data to ED

New York City (NYC) emergency departments (EDs) expressed interest in receiving summary reports of the data they send to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) syndromic surveillance system. We conducted key informant interviews with eight ED directors to determine variables of interest, along with preferred format and frequency of reporting. A two-page report was developed, summarizing total number of ED visits, top ten chief complaints, average number of visits by day of week and shift, and zip code distribution of visitors, to be sent monthly. The goal is to strengthen the relationship between the syndromic surveillance unit and the hospitals that provide us data by creating an ongoing bidirectional system of communication.