Updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems: recommendations from the Guidelines Working Group

MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001 Jul 27;50(RR-13):1-35; quiz CE1-7.

Abstract

The purpose of evaluating public health surveillance systems is to ensure that problems of public health importance are being monitored efficiently and effectively. CDC's Guidelines for Evaluating Surveillance Systems are being updated to address the need for a) the integration of surveillance and health information systems, b) the establishment of data standards, c) the electronic exchange of health data, and d) changes in the objectives of public health surveillance to facilitate the response of public health to emerging health threats (e.g., new diseases). This report provides updated guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems based on CDC's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health, research and discussion of concerns related to public health surveillance systems, and comments received from the public health community. The guidelines in this report describe many tasks and related activities that can be applied to public health surveillance systems.

Publication types

  • Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Communicable Disease Control / standards*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Population Surveillance / methods*
  • Public Health Informatics*
  • United States