***CALL FOR SENTINEL PROVIDERS***Clinicians (MD, DO, PA, NP, RN) with regular direct patient contact, your assistance is needed! Please join the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) for the current influenza season. For more information on becoming a sentinel provider, please contact the state influenza epidemiologist - Andy Weigel at 515-322-1937.
Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet)
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) participates in the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local health departments, and volunteer sentinel providers across the county. Data provided by the ILINet providers, in combination with other influenza surveillance data, provide a national picture of influenza virus and ILI activity in the U.S.
Who can be an ILINet Provider?
Outpatient providers of any specialty (e.g., family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, infectious disease) in any type of practice (e.g., private practice, public health clinic, urgent care center, emergency room, university student health center) are eligible to be ILINet providers.
What data do ILINet providers collect and how is this information reported?
ILINet providers report each week the total number of patient visits and the number of patient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) by age group (0-4 years, 5-24 years, 25-49 years, 50-64 years, >65 years).
These data are transmitted once a week via the Internet to a central data repository at CDC. Most providers report that it takes them less than 30 minutes a week to compile & report their data.
Why Volunteer?
Influenza viruses are constantly evolving and cause substantial morbidity and mortality every year. Data from sentinel providers are critical for monitoring the impact of influenza and, in combination with other influenza surveillance data, can be used to guide prevention and control activities, vaccine strain selection, and patient care. Sentinel providers receive feedback on the data submitted and summaries of regional and national influenza data.
Hospital Reporting and Surveillance Systems
Sentinel hospitals that participate in the IISN report influenza-associated hospitalization each week. If you are a hospital interested in participating, please contact Andy Weigel at (515) 322-1937 or start filling out the survey below.
If you are unable to report using the survey tool please contact the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology at (800) 362-2736.