The National electronic disease surveillance system (NEDSS) of the Center for Disease Control is a web based health infrastructure system for exchange of data related to surveillance. This system utilizes medical coding systems such as SNOMED and LOINC. This system is not a single application but a broad system of many interoperable health subsystems developed by the center for disease control, health departments and other health systems commercial developers. NEDSS enables the Center for Disease Control to collaborate more with other public health organizations through the enhancing the confidential sharing of data between CDC and other public health stakeholders (CDC, 2012).
Risks are very inherent in the use of all health information systems and the National electronic disease surveillance system of the CDC is not an exception. The major risk that faces the use of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System is a discontinuity of service due to localized failure in the network backbone. This is a problem that occurs in the use of most information systems. The risk can be mitigated through implementation of strong robust systems for the NEDSS network (CDC, 2012).
Natural disasters such as earthquakes, Hurricanes and power failure may also interfere with the information infrastructure of NEDSS system. Possible mitigation of this risk entails the protection of loss of critical data when such data strikes (CDC, 2007).
Cyber attacks are another major threat that faces the use of the NEDSS by the CDC. They may include Trojans, malware or worms which may result in the loss of the privacy of data in the system. This risk can be mitigated through investment in good network securities In the Organization (CDC, 2007).
Another major threat that faces the use of NEDDS is misuse of the network operation resources. Since the system is accessible to many people at multiple sites, it is possible for the information in the system to be used inappropriately. This threat can be mitigated through the use of tight controls of the resources of the integrated network. The other threat that faces the use of NEDSS is the unauthorized access of the application. This problem can be mitigated through the use of authorization while using the web application (CDC, 2007).
Communication infiltration is also a major problem that faces the NEDSS system of CDC. This risk can be mitigated through the use of confidentiality whole using the health information system. Another risk facing the CDC National electronic disease surveillance system is the lack of uniformity of data handling procedures in the system and the absence of a decentralized information management system (CDC, 2007).
The use of National electronic disease surveillance system is very important in the improvement of cost control at CDC. NEDSS also increases the accuracy and the timelessness of sharing of data. National electronic disease surveillance system also increases the service capacity of CDC. The National electronic disease surveillance system reduces inventory levels and also improves the quality of healthcare delivery (CDC, 2007).
NEDSS also promotes the utilization of quality data in the decision making process through the use of both methodologically sound assessments of health information. The main challenge in the use of NEDSS is that the benefits of this system do not occur automatically. This system is also data driven rather than action driven (CDC, 2007).
There are many operational problems that can lead to the reduction of the timelessness accuracy and the accessibility of information in the NEDSS system. For the Center for disease control to realize the full potential of the National electronic disease surveillance system, it must design the software in a way that maximizes the realization of the benefits of the system.
References
CDC (2012). National electronic disease surveillance system. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/What-CDC-is-Doing/health-information-systems.html
CDC (2007).Public health information network messaging system (PHINMS). Washington: US
Department Of Health And Human Services.
