Seminars @ NDSSL

Title: Spatial surveillance for public health: methods, evaluation, problems

Presenter: Ken Kleinman, ScD Associate Professor, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Date and Time: Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 2:00-3:00PM

Abstract:

In an increasing number of medical practices, health care records are kept electronically. Among the numerous advantages accorded by this method, one ancillary opportunity it that health care encounters can be surveilled in an attempt to detect changes in the public health. I review the motivation for doing so, using a potential anthrax attack as an example. I go on to discuss the possibility that using the location of the encounters or the addresses of the patients may improve the surveillance, summarizing two tools which can be used to do spatial surveillance. However, this leads to the question of how to decide what method should be preferred. I conclude with a discussion of evaluation of statistical tools in this setting.

Seminar Location: The seminars are held at:
    Virginia Tech, Corporate Research Center
    1880 Pratt Drive, Building XV
    NDSSL Conference Room, First Floor
    Directions: Map (PDF)

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