Variability among public health systems informs data standards for electronic case reporting

Surveillance of communicable diseases depends on factors such as data completeness and timeliness. A lack of standards for disease reporting to health authorities further hampers use of this data. To reveal how regional differences impact more rapid and consistent electronic case reports, we characterized these reporting practices from a sample of US states, with a focus on novel influenza. Reporting guidelines and case report forms were systematically coded to record the presence or absence of data elements. A comparison of these shows clear differences between the data elements required by guidelines and collected in forms. Our results yield a core set of data elements which could be required for electronic case reporting standards. The analysis may also help inform efforts to better align forms and guidelines where they do not match. Our findings highlight the need for common, standardized data elements harmonized with guidelines for public health practice.