[Federal Register: June 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 124)]
[Notices]
[Page 38343-38344]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jn03-84]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60 Day-03-84]
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be
[[Page 38344]]
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send
comments to Dale Verell, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600
Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be
received within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project: Evaluation of the Process Required to Effectively
Expand the National Laboratory System (NLS) to ALL States--New--Public
Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO), Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). In October 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories
(APHL) collaborated to support demonstration projects designed to test
the feasibility of strengthening the relationship between private
clinical and public health laboratories to more rapidly identify and
respond to emerging problems of public health importance. The National
Laboratory System (NLS) concept was proposed because of concerns about
the potential impact that a lack of integration among clinical and
public health laboratories could have on the ability of the public
health system to identify and carry out a timely response to foodborne
illnesses, bioterrorism incidents or other emerging diseases.
NLS demonstration projects are funded in four states--Washington,
Michigan, Minnesota and Nebraska.
The NLS concept would promote communication and collaboration
between clinical laboratories and state public health laboratories
within their states. CDC is now proposing to collect data from all
state public health laboratory directors and from a sample of clinical
laboratories in each state to determine the interest within states in
implementing the NLS concept. Results of the data collection will be
stratified by state and used to assist each state's public health
laboratory in improving communication and collaboration with the
clinical laboratories in their state. As more states implement the
systems, the ability to respond to national emergencies through
individual state systems, would be improved.
The goals of the data collection are:
[sbull] To determine the barriers that must be overcome to expand
the NLS concept in other states
[sbull] To determine the readiness of states to develop
relationships with clinical laboratories
[sbull] To determine the most effective communication links for
sharing information among state public health laboratories and clinical
laboratories within the state
[sbull] To understand what topics of public health significance
could be addressed in each state if communication and coordination
between the clinical and state public health laboratories were
improved. There are no costs to respondents.
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No. of Average
No. of responses burden per Total
Respondents respondents per response (in burden (in
respondent hrs.) hrs.)
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Survey of State Public Health Directors in States Without 50 1 30/60 25
NLS.....................................................
Survey of Clinical Laboratory Directors in All States.... 600 1 30/60 300
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Total.............................................. ............ ............ ............ 325
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Dated: June 23, 2003.
Thomas A. Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-16282 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
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