The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #36143

Melissa P Stevens, MPH¹, Linda Bogdanow¹, Heath Harris, MPH¹, Mary Hill, MPH¹, Patti Pavey, MPH², Ilene Risk, MPA¹, Ryan Sadler¹, Dagmar Vitek, MD³, and Gayle Williamson, BSN⁴. (1) Bureau of Epidemiology, Salt Lake Valley Health Department, 610 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, 801-534-4607, mstevens@co.slc.ut.us, (2) Administration, Salt Lake Valley Health Department, 2100 S State St, Rm S2500, Salt Lake City, UT 84190-2150, (3) Medical Office Division, Salt Lake Valley Health Department, 2100 S State St, Rm S2400, Salt Lake City, UT 84190-2150, (4) Communicable Disease Bureau, Salt Lake Valley Health Department, 610 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

The Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic games presented unique challenges to the field of public health, especially in relation to communicable disease surveillance and control. The significant influx of visitors into the area for a short period of time, in addition to the threat of terrorism given current events, increased the opportunity for a communicable disease outbreak (natural or intentional) during the Olympic timeframe. In order to ensure that the health of the communities affected by the games was protected, it was necessary to intensify surveillance efforts at the local level, in collaboration with other state and local entities. The planning and preparation that went into these efforts at the Salt Lake Valley Health Department is described, in addition to the technical issues surrounding active communicable disease surveillance. The surveillance components that were developed for the games are discussed in detail, with a special focus on the surveillance of public health syndromes at emergency departments. Also, methods for data collection, management, and analysis for these surveillance components are evaluated. Implications for case management and event investigations are discussed, and information management issues are identified. Epidemiological outcomes from the Olympic timeframe are presented. Also, the importance of defining roles within and between agencies is articulated as relationships between other health departments, managed care organizations, other health care facilities, and other agencies are described.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the planning and preparation necessary to develop enhanced communicable disease surveillance during a planned, large-scale event.
• Understand the communicable disease surveillance components used during the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games by the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, and assess the application of these components to their own health district.
• Recognize the importance of defining roles within an organization, and between organizations, in developing and executing surveillance plans.
• Develop a plan for collection, management, and analysis of public health surveillance data, and discuss the implications of surveillance data for public health action and case management.

Keywords: Surveillance, Emerging Health Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.