Queen’s University Public Health Informatics (QPHI) Team Can monitoring Telehealth Ontario enhance Public Health surveillance? Adam van Dijk Institute of Population and Public Health’s Research Day January 28 th, 2008

Syndromic Surveillance and Telehealth Ontario  Real-time syndromic surveillance uses existing non- traditional data for prompt analysis and feedback to those responsible for investigations and follow-up of potential outbreaks  Telehealth Ontario is a toll-free helpline available to all residents of the province  The system is available 24/7/365 with advice coming from trained and experienced registered nurses who direct patients to the most appropriate form of care

Monitoring real-time Telehealth Ontario data can contribute to Public Health  The prompt detection of disease outbreaks is a major concern to public health as it has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality  The Ontario Pandemic Plan has documented the need and potential for Telehealth Ontario for pandemic preparedness  Our retrospective research has shown that Telehealth Ontario data can be a proxy measure for ED visit data for respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses on a provincial basis

Future projects and next steps  Geospatial mapping of respiratory and gastrointestinal hospital visit data through a regional, real-time, emergency department surveillance system  Infectious Disease Simulation Tool with Peel Public Health  Ongoing lobbying to Government in an effort to obtain Telehealth data in real-time to enhance our regional EDSS