Minnesota data sharing may be model for near-real-time tracking of drug overdose hospital and ED trends Journal Article uri icon
Overview
abstract
  • The drug overdose epidemic in the US necessitates detailed and timely data to inform public health responses. In this article we describe how an electronic health record (EHR) data-sharing collaboration across health systems in Minnesota that was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was adapted to monitor trends in substance use-related hospital and emergency department (ED) visits. We found large increases in methamphetamine- and opioid-involved hospital and ED visits. Throughout the study period, Native American, Black, and multiple-race people experienced the highest rates of drug-involved hospital and ED visits. Monitoring drug-involved health care use through EHR data has the potential to help public health officials detect trends in near real time before mortality spikes and may also inform early intervention. The use of EHR data also allows for detailed monitoring of the impact of the drug overdose epidemic across racial and ethnic groups.

  • Link to Article
    publication date
  • 2023
  • published in
  • Health Affairs  Journal
  • Research
    keywords
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections
  • Data Systems
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Minnesota
  • Racial Groups
  • Substance Abuse
  • Additional Document Info
    volume
  • 42
  • issue
  • 11