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Author - Jenny Abercrombie

May 31, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States – 5/27/19

IN THE NEWS The Data: According to the CDC, from January 1st through May 24, 2019, there have been 940 confirmed cases of measles in 26 states within the U.S.A. (compared to 127 cases as of February 14, 2019), with an increase of 60 cases in just the past week.  This jettisons this year’s cases to the highest number since the decade before (1994) Measles was considered eradicated, which was 2000. There are currently 10 outbreaks of Measles located in seven (7)...

May 31, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 5-18-19

For week #20 (ending 5-18-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), stayed low throughout the nation during Week #20, as this year’s Flu Season is finally ending after a record long number of weeks. Only one (1) state had widespread flu activity. ILI remained under the national baseline of 2.2%; all 10 Regions reported “Normal” activity with ILI. Respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 3.8% last week. The number of hospitalizations from...

May 31, 2019Read more...
Princes George's County Fire/EMS-FirstWatch on Laptop

Data Without Borders

Fire/EMS agencies in the National Capital Region use FirstWatch to monitor hospitals across the region. With our help, they’ve created a Regional Hospital Dashboard that pulls CAD data from multiple counties and departments. By sharing data across jurisdictional lines, they have a much more accurate picture of just how busy local hospitals are. We’re proud to partner with these agencies and visionary leaders as they break down silos in order to serve their communities. The potential to connect data and...

May 24, 2019Read more...
AIMHI logo

AIMHI – Value-Based Finance Models for EMS

How successfully has EMS proved its value—as defined by the people who pay for our services? The answer to that question is crucial as the healthcare system continues its rapid transformation to economic models based on value. This informational, and at times controversial, webinar will guide participants through examples of the healthcare finance value transformation, illustrate the recent publications that seem challenge the value of the current EMS economic model, and highlight ways EMS can change and tailor the value...

May 10, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 5-4-19

For week #18 (ending 5-4-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to decline during Week #18, as this year’s Flu Season repeated a decrease in almost all flu markers. Only two (2) states had widespread flu activity and ILI is again under the national baseline of 2.2%.  Nine (9) out of 10 Regions reported “Normal” activity with ILI less than each of their region-specific baselines.  The percentage of respiratory specimens...

May 3, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 4-27-19

For week #16 & 17 (ending 4-20 & 4-27-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to decline during Weeks #16 and 17, as this year’s Flu Season finally showed a decrease in almost all the flu markers. Only a few states (3) had widespread flu activity and ILI is now under the national baseline of 2.2% for the second week in a row.  All Regions reported “Normal” activity with ILI...

April 28, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 4-13-19

For week #15 (ending 4-13-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased again but was still elevated during Week #15, particularly for so late in the season. This Flu Season has been elevated for 21 weeks, a new record (it was 20 weeks in 2014/15). The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 11.8% from 15.1% last week.  Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase. ...

April 25, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 4-6-19

For week #14 (ending 4-6-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased again but was still elevated during Week #14, particularly for so late in the season. This Flu Season has been elevated for 20 weeks; the last time the season was so lengthy was in 2014/15.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 15.1% from 18.1% last week.  Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued...

April 25, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, from January 1st through April 19, 2019, there have been 626 confirmed cases of measles in 22 states in the U.S.A. (compared to 127 cases as of February 14, 2019), with an increase of 71 cases just in one week.  This jettisons this year’s cases to the second highest since Measles was considered eliminated in 2000, with 2014 only slightly ahead with a total of 667 cases for that complete year vs. this year’s...

April 10, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-30-19

For week #13 (ending 3-30-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased but was still elevated during Week #13.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 18.1% from 22.1% last week, while all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baseline. Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels at least through mid-April,...

April 5, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-23-19

For week #12 (ending 3-23-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased but was still elevated during Week #12.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 22.1% from 26% last week with all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baseline. Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels into mid-April, however none...

March 27, 2019Read more...

Building Resilience to Prevent PTSD, Decrease Suicides, and Increase Happiness

The little black ribbon across a uniform badge or posted on social media signals that we’ve lost another one of our own. More and more of those tragic deaths are from suicide, leaving public safety professionals searching for ways to help our colleagues before it’s too late. One promising approach is focused on increasing resilience, defined as the ability to advance despite adversity—to handle day-to-day stressors and major events like school shootings and natural disasters without suffering serious psychological damage....

March 26, 2019Read more...
Academy Analytics dashboard outliers

Academy Analytics Webinar Series | May 17, 2019

Sign up for the free Academy Analytics Webinar Series to learn more. You’ll hear from colleagues as well as experts in the field of quality improvement about how you can use your data for quality improvement and operational awareness. Each webinar will feature a case study about how others are using this tool to enhance performance. In this webinar Mike Taigman, Mike Thompson, and Isabel Gardett, Ph.D., will facilitate this introduction to Academy Analytics and the science of quality improvement. Webinar Date:...

March 25, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-16-19

For week #11 (ending 3-16-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), was elevated during Week #11.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased slightly to 26% from 25.8% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels into April, however none of the numbers...

March 21, 2019Read more...

Measles Cases Continue to Escalate throughout 15 States in the U. S.

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the nearly 11 weeks from Jan 1st until Mar 14, 2019, there have been 268 confirmed cases of measles throughout 15 states (compared to 127 cases in 10 states a month ago). However, since then, individual counties have posted an increase in cases as of March 19, so the number is actually a little higher now.   It is not considered an outbreak until there are three or more cases in an area; less than...

March 21, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-9-19

For week #10 (ending 3-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #10.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly again to 25.8% from 26.1% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for the rest of March, however...

March 21, 2019Read more...
Opioid Overdose Data Elements per Data Source

Recommendations for Surveillance of EMS Data for Opioid Overdoses

An International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS) Webinar Following up on the poster presentation at ISDS 2019, Silvia R. Verdugo, MD, MPH, Mike Thompson, and Todd Stout of FirstWatch, will provide recommendations for mining EMS data to find opioid overdoses using approaches ranging from highly sensitive to very specific, depending on the need. These approaches are intended [...]