IRM has adapted EARS for the region’s unique integrated health information database. Data feeds into the system from multiple sources including 34 hospitals and other organizations partnering in the Northwest RHIO. This comprehensive picture of a population’s health is not available anywhere else in the country.

The Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS) was pioneered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a method for monitoring bioterrorism events. It evolved to a standard surveillance tool in New York City and the national capitol region following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The IRM EARS program is currently under development and testing, including the creation of an easy-to-use, secure front end and standardized methods for importing a variety of data types into the EARS engine for analysis. The EARS system may be used on LOINC coded laboratory test results, chief complaint data from emergency rooms, and ambulatory care data from physician offices. Using EARS, public health and emergency management officials can track the emergence of important diseases including pandemic influenza at the city, county, state and regional level.