[Federal Register: September 4, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 50682-50683]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04se07-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-07-0728]
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 404-639-5960
and send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar, CDC Acting Reports Clearance
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail
to omb@cdc.gov.
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 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. Written comments should be received
within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS)--(OMB
Number 0920-0728) REVISION--National Center for Public Health
Informatics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
CDC is responsible for the dissemination of nationally notifiable
disease information and for monitoring and reporting the impact of
epidemic influenza on mortality, Public Health Services Act (42 U.S.C.
241). In April 1984, CDC Epidemiology Program Office (EPO) in
cooperation with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
(CSTE) and epidemiologists in six states began a pilot project, the
Epidemiologic Surveillance Project (ESP). The ESP is designed to
demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the computer
transmission of surveillance data between CDC and the state health
departments. Each state health department used its existing
computerized disease surveillance system to transmit specific data
concerning each case of a notifiable disease. CDC technicians developed
computer software to automate the transfer of data from the state to
CDC.
In June 1985, CSTE passed a resolution supporting ESP as a workable
system for electronic transmission of notifiable disease case reports
from the states/territories to CDC. As the program was extended beyond
the original group of states, EPO began to provide software, training
and technical support to state health department staff overseeing the
transition from hard-copy to fully automated transmission of
surveillance data.
By 1989, all 50 states were using this computerized disease
surveillance system, which was then renamed the National Electronic
Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS) to reflect its
national scope. Core surveillance data are transmitted to CDC by the
states and territories through NETSS. NETSS has a standard record
format for data transmitted and does not require the use of a specific
software program. The ability of NETSS to accept records generated by
different software programs makes it useful for the efficient
integration of surveillance systems nationwide.
Since 1999, the CDC, Epidemiology Program Office (EPO) has worked
with CSTE, state and local public health system staff, and other CDC
disease prevention and control program staff to identify information
and information technology standards to support integrated disease
surveillance. That effort is now focused on development of the National
Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS), coordinated by CDC's
Deputy Director for Integrated Health Information Systems.
NEDSS will electronically integrate and link together a wide
variety of surveillance activities and will facilitate more accurate
and timely reporting of disease information to CDC and the state and
local health departments. Consistent with recommendations from our
state and local surveillance partners as described in the 1995 report,
Integrating Public Health Information and Surveillance Systems, NEDSS
includes data standards, an internet based communications
infrastructure built on industry standards. It also includes policy-
level agreements on data access, sharing, burden reduction, and
protection of confidentiality. To support NEDSS, CDC is supporting the
development of an information system, the NEDSS Base System (NBS),
which will use NEDSS technical and information standards, (http://www.cdc.gov/od/hissb/doc/NEDSSBaseSysDescriptioin.pdf
). CDC will
receive reports from the 57 respondents (50 state, 2 cities, and 5
territorial health departments) using the NEDSS (NETSS replacement)
umbrella of systems, that includes the National Electronic
Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS).
There are no costs to the respondents other than their time to
participate in the survey.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Respondents Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
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Weekly Reporting:
States...................................... 50 52 3 7,800
Territories................................. 5 52 90/60 390
Cities...................................... 2 52 3 312
Annual Reporting:
States...................................... 50 1 16 800
Territories................................. 5 1 10 50
Cities...................................... 2 1 16 32
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Total................................... .............. .............. .............. 9,384
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Dated: August 23, 2007.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E7-17401 Filed 8-31-07; 8:45 am]
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