Preliminary design of an Internet-based graphical surveillance information system

As part of an effort to develop tools to help monitor and manage the Air Force's world-wide health delivery systems, the USAF Surgeon General's Office has been developing a web-based statistical surveillance information system in order to provide near real-time management and clinical information. The intent is to incorporate statistical and related scientific methods that can help identify unusual events and patterns of concern in large, highly distributed, and near continual data flows. This system combines graphical analysis, query ability, and embedded semi-automated intelligence for examining process performance at any level of aggregation or stratification. The objectives, current status, latest version, successes to-date, future directions, and barriers are discussed and demonstrated.