Sentinel Custom FormsA Collaborative Effort

Theresa S. Kittle, MPHMississippi State Department of HealthJune 15, 2016

ObjectivesProvide background on the need

for custom forms

Describe MS’s plan for the custom forms, including outbreak forms

Custom Forms – Background• States capture emerging disease data

in a variety of ways – not streamlined• Excel spreadsheets• Access database• EpiInfo• Traditional CDC surveillance forms may

not apply to the situation at hand• Need to be able to rapidly capture data

in an electronic format, easily accessible to pertinent staff

Custom Forms – BackgroundEbola Response – 2014

Used Excel spreadsheets to create monitoring form

Time consuming to create initial form and symptom assessment log (~8 hours)

Custom Forms – BackgroundEbola Response – 2014 (cont.)

Spreadsheets were not user-friendly Each traveler had a separate Excel

spreadsheet Assessed the individual’s Ebola risk Monitored for Ebola symptoms

Unable to easily share information among staff

Issue with aggregating data for surveillance purposes and CDC updates

Saved on secure drive – not web-based

Custom Forms – Background• Discussed the need for custom

forms during the 2015 UGM• States provided basic outline of what

was needed for the custom forms• STC staff documented the requests

Custom Forms – Background• States and STC developed CRs in the

latter part of 2015• Cost-sharing CR among the states• Was delivered in a phased approach• Last forms management phase was

implemented in February 2016 release• First outbreak management phase was

implemented in May 2016 release

Custom Forms – Capability• Form development is

comprehensive• Sections• Variety of question types (e.g., Free-text,

Dropdown, Multi-select, Check box, etc.)• Form questions can link to core Sentinel

fields• Reduce redundant data entry• Required Fields• Logic capability

Custom FormsCan add additional electronic

forms to Sentinel• Web-based• Eliminates version control of the spreadsheets• User friendly• Rapid development of forms by

states• No reliance on any third-party

• Easily export form data for analysis

Custom Forms

Custom Forms – MS’s PlanTransfer Ebola monitoring

spreadsheets into Sentinel (n=36)

Monitor Zika virus suspectsOther emerging disease eventsCapture disease outbreaks,

including influenza

SummaryLess than one year, custom

forms was a reality as was outbreak management

Next step – implement final outbreak management phase in the August 2016 release