We’re excited to share two publications based on the experience of Multi-State EHR-Based Network for Disease Surveillance (MENDS), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded pilot project that leverages electronic health record (EHR) data to generate timely prevalence estimates of chronic disease risk measures at national and local levels.

• “Development of a Hypertension Electronic Phenotype for Chronic Disease Surveillance in Electronic Health Records: Key Analytic Decisions and Their Effects,” published in Preventing Chronic Disease (Volume 20 — September 14, 2023) provides results and analytic interpretations related to different decision points in the EHR-based electronic phenotype development process — and proposes a definition for EHR-based hypertension.
• “Fostering Governance and Information Partnerships for Chronic Disease Surveillance: The Multi-State EHR-Based Network for Disease Surveillance” published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (online Oct. 5, 2023) presents practical guidance for implementing governance for data sharing based on the experience of the MENDS pilot. The work described in these papers may inform clinical and public health efforts for surveillance in other data systems and populations.

Visit MENDS for more information, including a governance document that details principles, policies, and processes. In addition, learn more about NACDD’s Center for Public Health Leadership workforce development offerings for health departments, such as online learning courses for enhancing chronic disease surveillance using clinical data.