JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (Jun 2024)

A Novel Web-Based Application for Influenza and COVID-19 Outbreak Detection and Response in Residential Aged Care Facilities

  • Kai Hsun Hsiao,
  • Emma Quinn,
  • Travers Johnstone,
  • Maria Gomez,
  • Andrew Ingleton,
  • Arun Parasuraman,
  • Zeina Najjar,
  • Leena Gupta

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2196/37625
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10
pp. e37625 – e37625

Abstract

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AbstractThe use of innovative digital health technologies in public health is expanding quickly, including the use of these tools in outbreak response. The translation of a digital health innovation into effective public health practice is a complex process requiring diverse enablers across the people, process, and technology domains. This paper describes a novel web-based application that was designed and implemented by a district-level public health authority to assist residential aged care facilities in influenza and COVID-19 outbreak detection and response. It discusses some of the challenges, enablers, and key lessons learned in designing and implementing such a novel application from the perspectives of the public health practitioners (the authors) that undertook this project.