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From Data Sources to Event Detection --- Summary of the
Southern California Regional Surveillance Summit
Jeffrey M. Johnson, L. Gresham, D. Browner, C. McClean, M. Ginsberg, S. Wood
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, California
Corresponding author: Jeffrey M. Johnson, 1700 Pacific Highway, MS P511C-A, San Diego, CA 92101; Telephone: 619-531-4945; Email: jeffrey.johnson@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Abstract
Introduction: Approximately 20 million persons reside within southern California. Each county and city
health department in southern California has approached syndromic surveillance somewhat independently and is at different stages of development.
Objectives: The Southern California Regional Surveillance Summit was held June 16, 2003, to enable professionals to share capacities and best practices and to assess the potential for regional collaboration.
Methods: Using terrorism-preparedness funds, San Diego County sponsored a summit of county and city
health department representatives. Selected counties presented their syndromic surveillance efforts. Roundtable discussions were held regarding data sources, aberration-detection algorithms, model syndromic surveillance systems and information technology interfaces, and evaluation of signals and alerts. Roundtable discussions were
summarized and next steps explored. A compendium was developed for all participants.
Results: With representation from 12 California counties, the state of California, U.S./Mexico Border Health, and the U.S. Navy, all participants described a level of syndromic surveillance. Potential data sources were prioritized, meaningful methods identified, and the potential for regional collaboration outlined. Across southern
California, syndromic surveillance capacity varied substantially, with certain regions using real-time data-capture systems and state-of-the-art aberration-detection methods, whereas others face shortages in staffing, insufficient access to
data sources, or lack of formal evaluation techniques.
Conclusions: The summit enabled professionals from county and city health departments to exchange
information, highlight lessons learned, and explore the potential for future collaboration. It was an important step toward a multijurisdictional effort of using surveillance for early disease detection.
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