FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2004

WESTCHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BETTER POISED

TO DETECT FUTURE OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE

County system up to 100% hospital participation

The Westchester County Health Department now receives daily reports from every hospital emergency room in the county, helping it to track unusual levels or patterns of disease, such as a flu outbreak.

Commissioner of Health Dr. Joshua Lipsman announced today that the Community Health Electronic Surveillance System (CHESS) which went on line in January 2003 as part of the county’s efforts to improve emergency preparedness is now being used by all 12 hospital emergency rooms in Westchester.

“Having all hospitals with emergency rooms connected to this reporting system greatly enhances our ability to detect disease outbreaks more quickly than before,” said Dr. Lipsman. “The timing of total participation could not be better. Many residents are concerned about the possibility of a flu outbreak due to this year’s flu vaccine shortage. With all area hospitals participating in this reporting system, we will be able to better detect and monitor a flu outbreak, should one occur.”

CHESS was developed by the Westchester County Department of Health at the direction of County Executive Andy Spano with financial support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey. It is a technologically advanced computerized early warning system. Through

this surveillance system, the Health Department analyzes and reviews patient information summaries (without names) to determine if there is a meaningful increase in key medical categories. These increases are reviewed to determine if further investigation is needed.
CHESS has been presented at a national conference and is being used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a model program for other county and state health departments.

MORE

CHESS Pg 2

The following is a list of hospitals that are currently participating in CHESS.

Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry
Hudson Valley Hospital Center
Lawrence Hospital Center
Mount Vernon Hospital
New York United Hospital Medical Center
Northern Westchester Hospital
Phelps Memorial Hospital Association
Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester
St. John’s Riverside Hospital – St. John’s Division
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Westchester Medical Center
White Plains Hospital Center

For more information, call the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000 or visit our website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

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