OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SAFETY NETWORK (OHSN)

Plan for Data Transmission

To achieve maximum participation by all US healthcare facilities, no matter how they are currently collecting occupational safety and health data, NIOSH is offering multiple mechanisms for data transmission to OHSN. NIOSH is currently working with major vendors and leaders from healthcare facilities to adapt their software so that files containing the required data for OHSN can be exported from systems already in use, rather than requiring duplicate data entry into multiple systems from participants. However, changes to existing software will take time to accomplish. During the interim, and for those not using commercial software, NIOSH is supporting alternate methods for data transmission.

Scenarios for Transmitting Data to OHSN

Data Elements for the HCP Traumatic Injury Module

NIOSH and partners (including the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP), the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine- Medical Center Occupational Health Section (ACOEM-MCOH), and individual healthcare facilities) have finalized the data elements to be included in the traumatic Injury module of the OHSN database based on input from subject matter experts and stakeholders. The finalized data elements are the centerpiece around which the compatibility tools for the OHSN traumatic injury module are being developed. These data elements were refined after vetting with sample data from several healthcare facilities, in cooperation with major software vendors, to confirm that OHSN data requirements are achievable.

Data Transmission using Microsoft Excel (Scenario #1, Scenario #2)

NIOSH is developing and testing a standard Excel file format with the defined standard data elements and the standard value sets for each element. Facilities may choose to collect and enter the OHSN data (using the OHSN standard value sets) directly into Excel if they do not have software which can produce the Excel file (Scenario #1; contact NIOSH if you would like the standard Excel data entry file).

Alternatively, an Excel file in the required format can be produced via export features of most commercial software used by healthcare facilities (Scenario #2).

In either Scenario #1 or Scenario #2, healthcare facilities can transmit their data files to OHSN after converting these data from Excel to Extensible Markup Language (XML) format using a NIOSH utility. The NIOSH conversion utility prepares the data for import to OHSN and performs data validation allowing the user to obtain immediate feedback on any data issues. Thus any healthcare facility with the ability to generate an Excel file with the required data elements will be able to participate in OHSN without having to purchase a particular commercial software product.

Data Transmission using Existing Commercial Software (Scenario #3)

Eventually, OHSN will be able to receive XML files which contain the standard data elements and value sets via an export function built into commercial software programs (Scenario #3).

Guidance, known as the NIOSH Standard Occupational Data Architecture (SODA), has been drafted to instruct developers of commercial and noncommercial occupational health surveillance software on incorporating OHSN data requirements into their existing applications.

OHSN Facility Tools
The link below provides tools for healthcare facilities to use when participating in OHSN.  This includes an overview document, Excel templates which can be used for data entry, and the SODA Conversion & Validation Tool to prepare data for OHSN submission.  Contact us at NIOSHOHSN@cdc.org or 513-841-4335 with questions on these items.

OHSN Facility Tools

OHSN Software Compatibility Kit
The link below provides tools to make your software OHSN-compatible.  This includes an overview document; the SODA file, outlining the data formats used by the NIOSH Standard Occupational Data Architecture (SODA) for collecting data for OHSN; and sample source code for converting Excel files to SODA xml format.  Contact us at NIOSHOHSN@cdc.org or 513-841-4335 with questions on these items.

OHSN Software Compatibility Kit