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Texas Syndromic Surveillance (TxS2) (NEW)

Protecting Texas communities through early detection of emerging public health conditions and threats.

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Texas Syndromic Surveillance (TxS2) is the statewide syndromic surveillance system hosted by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for use by Local Health Departments (LHDs), DSHS Public Health Regions (PHRs, view map of DSHS PHRs), DSHS central office, and data providers (hospitals, free-standing emergency centers, and urgent care centers, for example) for enhanced surveillance of emerging public health conditions or threats. Syndromic surveillance utilizes trend analysis to establish a baseline and then uses algorithms to compare the current data to that baseline and issue alerts when irregularities are detected. DSHS has the authority to operate TxS2 under Chapter 81 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.

    What We Do

    Collect & Report Data
    Collect & Report Data
    Data & Surveillance
    Data & Surveillance
    Forecast Trends
    Forecast Trends
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    ESSENCE User Trainings

    DSHS developed an ESSENCE guide and training resources to help users access and navigate the system’s main features through the ESSENCE platform.

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    Use Cases and Success Stories

    DSHS staff, LHD staff, and hospital infection preventionists use TxS2.  We share the experience of these partners to show the importance of syndromic surveillance.

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    Policies and Procedures

    Data in the TxS2 system are shared, accessed, used, and stored in a secure, confidential manner in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws governing the protection of health-related information.

    History of Syndromic Surveillance in Texas

    In April 2011, DSHS conducted a survey of existing syndromic surveillance systems in Texas and found that at least six different analysis systems were being used in various parts of the state, and no data was shared between them. In October 2019, there were three syndromic surveillance systems in Texas: the North Texas Syndromic Surveillance System (NTXSS) hosted by Tarrant County Public Health covering PHR 2/3, a system hosted by Houston Health Department covering PHR 6/5S, and then the TxS2 system. NTXSS was fully incorporated into TxS2, and the Houston Health Department system is working with the TxS2 program to integrate their data fully. The former Texas Association of Local Health Officials (TALHO) syndromic surveillance system was fully incorporated into TxS2 and no longer exists.
     

    Goals and Objectives

    1. Implement, configure, and test the information technology (IT) infrastructure for TxS2.
    2. Develop and execute Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for data providers to submit data into TxS2 and for LHDs and data providers to access the data in TxS2.
    3. Conduct user training on TxS2 for data providers, LHDs, DSHS PHRs, and DSHS central office staff.
    4. Onboard data providers that have emergency departments, urgent care centers, free-standing emergency centers, and an Electronic Health Record (EHRs to achieve ongoing data submission into TxS2.
    5. Monitor data submission into TxS2 by data providers to ensure stable connectivity and receipt of TxS2 data sources.
    6. Monitor usage of TxS2 by data providers, LHDs, DSHS PHRs, and DSHS central office staff to determine if additional training and data feeds are necessary.