VigiLanz Real-Time Alerts Prepare Hospitals for Enterovirus EV-D68

September 13, 2014

VigiLanz, a digital healthcare technology company headquartered in Minneapolis, announces that its real-time clinical surveillance and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform is actively working with facilities to add real-time alerts for Enterovirus EV-D68. Enterovirus EV-D68 is a respiratory virus resulting in the hospitalization of hundreds of children in Missouri, causing alarm across the Midwest and beyond. Ten states have contacted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for help investigating clusters of the virus that is being blamed for the illness. To date, twelve states may have been impacted. “The flexible design of VigiLanz's software platform allows us to add new alerts for our clients on demand, for both the less specific types of tests being used and new tests being added, when responding to this emerging concern," says Stacy Pur, vice president for clinical decision support. "Real-time alerts enable healthcare professionals to take the protective measures required to prevent spread within their facilities and also to report cases to their public health departments sooner.” The CDC is guiding healthcare professionals to: • Be aware of EV-D68 as a potential cause of clusters of severe respiratory illness, particularly in young children. • Consider laboratory testing of respiratory specimens for an Enterovirus when the cause of infection in severely ill patients is unclear. State health departments or the CDC can be approached for typing Enterovirus. • Report cases and clusters of severe respiratory illnesses to state and local health departments for further guidance.

VigiLanz, a digital healthcare technology company headquartered in Minneapolis, announces that its real-time clinical surveillance and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform is actively working with facilities to add real-time alerts for Enterovirus EV-D68.

Enterovirus EV-D68 is a respiratory virus resulting in the hospitalization of hundreds of children in Missouri, causing alarm across the Midwest and beyond. Ten states have contacted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for help investigating clusters of the virus that is being blamed for the illness. To date, twelve states may have been impacted.

“The flexible design of VigiLanz's software platform allows us to add new alerts for our clients on demand, for both the less specific types of tests being used and new tests being added, when responding to this emerging concern," says Stacy Pur, vice president for clinical decision support. "Real-time alerts enable healthcare professionals to take the protective measures required to prevent spread within their facilities and also to report cases to their public health departments sooner.”

The CDC is guiding healthcare professionals to:
• Be aware of EV-D68 as a potential cause of clusters of severe respiratory illness, particularly in young children.
• Consider laboratory testing of respiratory specimens for an Enterovirus when the cause of infection in severely ill patients is unclear. State health departments or the CDC can be approached for typing Enterovirus.
• Report cases and clusters of severe respiratory illnesses to state and local health departments for further guidance.

Pur continues, “VigiLanz is committed to supporting healthcare facilities and public health responders in using electronic technology to assist with the rapid identification and control of current and emerging infectious disease concerns. The VigiLanz ICM application is an essential tool that assists hospitals to stay on top of these potential threats through rapid and effective response.”

Source: VigiLanz Corporation