Technical Publications and Standards

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Onboarding Materials

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Quick Start Guides

User Manuals

Data Dictionaries

  • Commercial Lab Data Dictionaryexcel icon – This dictionary includes data elements and processing rules for six commercial (anonymized) laboratories.
  • Laboratory User Tablesexcel icon – This file includes three tables: an analytic data dictionary and lookup tables for the laboratory test categorizations and laboratory result categorizations.
  • NSSP Data Dictionaryexcel icon – This dictionary provides details on data elements stored in NSSP data tables. The Archive Processed table worksheet—1 of 14 worksheets in this document—links to the Public Health Information Network Vocabulary Access and Distribution System (PHIN VADS) website for specific data elements associated with a standard. PHIN VADS is a web-based enterprise vocabulary system for accessing, searching, and distributing vocabularies used in public health and clinical care practice. It promotes the use of standards-based vocabulary to support the exchange of consistent information among public health partners. (No password is required to access document.)
  • Data Dictionary: Data Elements Used in NSSP Data Processing Journey (handout)pdf icon – This handout provides an easy-to-understand description of the Data Dictionary Excel guidance document. The “journey” explains data processing steps, tables, and data elements.

Message Mapping Guides

CDC, in collaboration with the International Society for Disease Surveillance, has developed and published syndromic surveillance messaging guides. These guides support Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability programs that employ health information technology to improve the quality and value of American healthcare. To access and use the HL7 implementation guides for the Syndromic Surveillance Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability objectives, please see the table below.

HL7 Implementation Guides
Implementation Guides
Document Transaction Standard(s) Used Status
HL7 Version 2.5.1 Implementation Guide: Syndromic Surveillance, Release 1 – US Realm, Standard for Trial Use, July 2019
*Current Document searchable at HL7.orgexternal icon
**login or sign up required for download
Access Instructions: go to Standards and then Standards for Trial Use, scroll to or search Syndromic Surveillance guide (close date July 26, 2021)		 Syndromic surveillance is a process that regularly and systematically uses health and health-related data in near “real-time” to make information available on the health of a community. This information includes statistics on disease trends and community health-seeking behaviors that support essential public health surveillance functions in governmental public health authorities (PHAs). HL7 Version 2.5.1,

ICD-10-CM,

SNOMED-CT,

LOINC,

Rx Norm,

UCUM,

CPT4

 The following decisions were made by the ISDS Message Guide Workgroup as well as the changes to streamline and reduce redundancies from previous versions of the guide:
  • Removed all references to laboratory data
  • Removed all ICD 9 references
  • Removed all references to HL7 v2.3.1
PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department, Urgent Care, Inpatient and Ambulatory Care Settings, Release 2.0 (April, 2015)pdf icon

Erratum to the PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department, Urgent Care, Inpatient and Ambulatory Care Settings ADT Messages A01, A03, A04 and A08 Optional ORU^R01 Message Notation for Laboratory Data HL7 Version 2.5.1 (Version 2.3.1 Compatible) Release 2.0 April 21, 2015pdf icon

PHIN 2.0 Implementation Guide Meaningful Use Clarifying Document (PDF available on NIST Website)external icon

 Sending data from emergency department, urgent, ambulatory care and inpatient settings to public health authorities

 

Certifying 2014 Edition Meaningful Use electronic health record technology

 HL7 2.5.1

 

 

HL7v2

 Published
PHIN Messaging Guide For Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department, Urgent Care And Inpatient Settings, Release 1.9 (April 2013)pdf icon Biosurveillance

(Currently not referenced for EHR certification)

 HL7 2.5.1

(Version 2.3.1 Compatible)

This guide is suggested for future Meaningful Use Stages.

 Published
PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department and Urgent Care Data, Release 1.1 (August 2012),Testing Clarification Release 1.2 (February 2013)pdf icon Biosurveillance

(ONC Certification Criteria for EHR Technology, 2014 Ed.)

 HL7 2.5.1

(Version 2.3.1 Compatible)

Meaningful Use Stage 2 (October 2013 start)

 Published
PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department and Urgent Care Data, Release 1.1 (August 2012)pdf icon Biosurveillance

(ONC Certification Criteria for EHR Technology, 2014 Ed.)

 HL7 2.5.1

(Version 2.3.1 Compatible)

Meaningful Use Stage 2

(October 2013 start)

 Published
PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department and Urgent Care Data, Addendum Release 1.1 (August 2012)pdf icon Biosurveillance

(ONC Certification Criteria for EHR Technology, 2014 Ed.)

 HL7 2.5.1

(Version 2.3.1 Compatible)

Meaningful Use Stage 2

(October 2013 start)

 Published
PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance: Emergency Department and Urgent Care Data, Release 1 (October 2011)pdf icon Biosurveillance

(Suggested for use with EHR Certification 2011 ed.)

 HL7 2.5.1

(Version 2.3.1 Compatible)

 Published

Standards and Guidance

NSSP Glossary

Access our glossary of terms associated with the National Syndromic Surveillance Program.

Page last reviewed: January 21, 2022
Content source: Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance