Infectious Disease Section - Informatics Program

The Infectious Disease (ID) Section Informatics Program provides support for the systems, processes and data needed for disease surveillance, case and outbreak management, and electronic data exchange.  

ID Informatics Program staff work closely with DPH and State Information Technology (IT), other DPH programs, the State Public Health Laboratory, local health departments, other states' public health agencies, and national partners such as the CDC, the Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL). Staff support the following systems and activities:

1. Connecticut Electronic Disease Surveillance System (CTEDSS) is the primary surveillance and case management system for reportable diseases, emergency illnesses, and health conditions, and other non-disease activities. CTEDSS is built on the Conduent, Inc. Maven application, and is configurable by ID Informatics Program staff. CTEDSS is used by DPH, hospitals, and local health department staff. Informatics staff also assist with data quality processes. For questions about CTEDSS, please email dph.ctedss@ct.gov. 
   
   
2. Electronic Data Exchange (EDX) platform is built on the state enterprise licensed Pilotfish Technologies integration console and engine. The EDX platform supports several core data exchange activities.  

1. Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR), is the transition from paper-based reporting of CT reportable laboratory findings, to use of a standards-based message. ELR can be engaged using an HL7 formatted message or a flat file formatted message. ID Informatics Program staff continue to work with all Connecticut acute care hospital laboratories, the State Public Health Laboratory commercial laboratories, and other locations to establish ELR. For information on setting up ELR, please email dph.informaticsLab@ct.gov. Informatics staff will provide additional information including the accepted data exchange protocols.
   
   
2. Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) is the transition from paper-based reporting of CT health care provider reportable diseases to standards-based electronic messages to improve timeliness of case reporting to DPH. The eCR project is a collaboration between DPH, CDC, and APHL. Eligible healthcare organizations with electronic health record systems that meet the national standards can request enrollment in eCR by contacting dph.ECRinformatics@ct.gov. Informatics staff will review criteria with your organization to determine if you are eligible for eCR.
   
   Note: Both ELR and eCR are required for eligible professionals (hospitals and providers) to meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for promoting interoperability. More information can be found on the DPH Promoting Interoperability webpage.
   
   
3. National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) Modernization Initiative (NMI) supports the transition to HL7 messages for electronic reporting of nationally notifiable condition data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ID Informatics Program staff work with DPH program staff yearly to update and clean data for the annual data submission to CDC. Currently DPH send electronic messages in the HL7 format for 62 CT reportable diseases that are also nationally notifiable. Informatics staff are working to migrate more diseases into this HL7 reporting.

The ongoing work of ID Informatics Program improves public health reporting and surveillance. Data collected are used to monitor diseases, identify disease trends and outbreaks, and guide public health policy decisions. The outcome is improved public health prevention, preparedness, and health promotion of the residents of the State of Connecticut as well as contributing to the national picture of public health.

Page last updated 2/26/2024.