US doctors poring over medical records to find unvaccinated patientsamid the measles outbreak  

US doctors are tapping into medical records to identify unvaccinated patients in an attempt contain the record-setting measles outbreak that has swept the nation.

Several clinics, such as New York’s NYU Langone Health, have built alerts into their electronic systems to notify doctors and nurses that a patient lives in an outbreak area, based on their zip code.

The goal is to protect medical staff and other patients from potential exposure, and warn the affected person about their risk of being infected.

It comes as federal health officials revealed on Monday that a total of 764 people in 23 states have been sickened by the measles, the highest number since the virus was deemed ‘eliminated’ in 2000. 

Several hospital across the US have built alerts into their electronic medical records systems to tell staff if an unvaccinated patient lives in area affected by the measles (file image)

NYU Langone Health’s network of hospitals and medical offices treat patients from both Rockland County and Brooklyn in New York, two epicenters of the outbreak. 

Using software from Wisconsin-based Epic Systems Corp, the electronic system identifies patients who are unvaccinated and helps inform doctors on how to screen, track and treat measles patients.   

‘It identifies incoming patients who may have been exposed to measles and need to be assessed,’ said Dr Michael Phillips, chief epidemiologist at NYU Langone Health. 

Alerts in a patient’s medical record also prompt conversations with their visitors – who may also have been exposed to the virus – about their own health, prior exposure to measles and vaccination history.

Mount Sinai Health System in New York rolled out a similar program last week, said chief medical information officer Dr Bruce Darrow.

Dr Darrow said it is important because, although a patient who comes from a measles-affected zip code may have passed the screening, family members who visit may have been exposed.

He said the alert system raises awareness for doctors and nurses ‘to be on lookout not just for our patients, but anybody who comes into the building.’

Epic, whose medical records software is used by thousands of US hospitals and clinics, says clients in California, Illinois, New York and Texas are using the system to fight the outbreak.

Northern California’s Sutter Health, which serves three million patients, introduced a screening questionnaire last month about potential measles risk for every patient who tries to book their appointment online.

So far, the Golden State has reported 40 measles cases, most of them in the southern part of the state.

Dr Jeffrey Silvers, Sutter Health’s medical director of infectious diseases, said many measles patient often seek treatment for symptoms such as a cough or a runny nose before they develop the tell-tale rash. 

The screening program aims to identify early on whether they represent a measles case.

‘If a person has a fever plus one of those symptoms, or a rash, they have to answer the next question, which is: “Have you been outside of the United States in the last three weeks or been exposed to anybody with measles?”‘ Silvers said.

Those who answer ‘yes’ must call to schedule their appointment so that staff can take precautions to protect themselves and other patients. 

Sutter Health plans to use Epic’s software to develop a program to increase measles vaccination coverage, Dr Silvers said.   

Meanwhile, two hospitals in Illinois – which has confirmed seven measles cases this year – sent hundreds of letters to parents urging them to ensure their kids get their measles shots.

‘We wanted to do everything we could before it got to us,’ said Dr Michael Caplan, co-medical director of a pediatric partnership between Advocate Children’s Hospital and North University HealthSystem.

According to the World Health Organization, 95 percent of a population needs to be vaccinated to provide herd immunity,’ a form of indirect protection that prevents infection in people too young or sick to be vaccinated. 

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said rising rates of vaccine skepticism are creating undervaccinated populations, weakening herd immunity. 

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