NETSS/NEDSS Review Webpage




Tuberculosis

Instructions:
CSTE has asked your State Epidemiologist to forward this review of the data elements between CDC’s legacy and NEDSS message. Below, CDC has provided an outline of the methodology and results in its variable comparison between NEDSS and legacy systems, such as NETSS and paper data collection forms. As the lead for Tuberculosis surveillance in your state health agency, we would like you to review excel file below, which illustrates the comparison of old and new variables between the legacy systems and the new requirements for sending NEDSS data. When evaluating this, we would like you to determine how feasible these new data elements are for your state and whether you are requesting any changes to the content or required/optional attribute of the variables. You can provide comments at the bottom of this page. This will help us ensure that both your needs and the needs of the CDC are being met.
Download file: http://www.cste.org/Assessment/NEDSS/files/Tuberculosisv2FINAL.xls


Methodology
• An Excel spreadsheet of the variables in the NEDSS Implementation Guide was created for tuberculosis. The rows in the attached Excel spreadsheet represent NEDSS variables and most columns represent NEDSS variable attributes. (NEDSS Implementation Guides are documents on the PHIN web site that provides the technical and business content needed to message data to CDC); • A variable-by-variable review was performed, comparing the variables in the NEDSS message to the TIMS legacy message. To document the results of the comparison, a column (shaded in yellow) was inserted into the spreadsheet corresponding to the CDC legacy surveillance system. When there was a CDC legacy message variable that corresponded to a NEDSS variable, a "yes" was inserted into the column to denote a match. The results of the variable-by-variable comparison were shared with the relevant CDC program. And, the CDC program was asked to verify the accuracy of variable comparison and to make any necessary corrections; • The CDC program was asked to note if the NEDSS Implementation Guide message included all the variables they needed or whether there were any variables that did not need to be sent to CDC or whether there were additional variables they needed.; • The CDC program was asked to review the required and optional field attributes for each NEDSS variable and, if needed, to identify changes to required or optional field designations; and • Lastly, the CDC program was asked to provide a statement regarding how they reached consensus with their state partners, about which variables should be sent to CDC.

Results
The results of this assessment for TIMS and NEDSS are contained in the attached spreadsheet. Variable statistics from this review indicate that all of the NEDSS message variables for TB represent variables previously contained in the TIMS legacy message. There is very close alignment between NEDSS and TIMS because both are based on information contained in the RVCT. The RVCT and TIMS underwent a revision process a few years ago, but the entire process has not been finalized. As a first step, the RVCT and TIMS were updated to meet the 1997 OMB Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, which mandated an implementation date of January 1, 2003. This step was finalized and this change is represented in the NEDSS message. A more comprehensive review and revision of RVCT variables was undertaken and was put on hold. This effort was led by Division of TB Elimination (DTBE) staff working in close conjunction with an ad hoc working group they established having representatives from the states. This working group met monthly to advise DTBE on the revision process, recommendations, and timeline. The working group also scheduled meetings with each reporting area to update them about the process and solicit their input.


General Comments:
As of February 2006, the comprehensive RVCT revision process started up again. This process will follow the same procedures as it had in the past. The DTBE staff and ad hoc working group will solicit input from states and partner organizations. CSTE will be included in this process. The recommendations from the working group will then be presented to all partners for final approval prior to submission to OMB. At this time, DTBE is not requesting any changes to the message they receive or to the required/optional field attributes. Once the comprehensive RVCT revision is approved, the changes in messaging and in the required/optional field attributes will be identified and DTBE will keep all partners informed.
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Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists ©2006