Training and Proficiency Testing for Local Health Partners On a Web-Based Surveillance System

Background: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health web-based disease surveillance system and case management system, Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network (MAVEN) facilitates the flow of critical epidemiologic and laboratory information between state and local health departments, as well as other health entities in MA. To effectively utilize MAVEN all users need to be trained and then tested on how the system actually processes data.   
Methods: MAVEN training materials and proficiency tests have been created to ensure local health partners have the knowledge and skill sets needed to enter data correctly and accurately into MAVEN.  The training also ensures that users have an understanding of how the data are processed through the system from investigation start to end. Additional proficiency tests have been created for MAVEN tuberculosis (TB) modules. Currently Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) module and proficiency tests are being developed.
Results: The Office of Integrated Surveillance and Informatics Services (ISIS) have trained approximately 201 out of 351 local boards of health.  Of those, 151 have demonstrated sufficient proficiency to allow for use of MAVEN for disease surveillance and case management of notifiable conditions. Monthly trainings utilizing web-based training software allow for advanced trainings focused on contact investigations and perinatal Hepatitis B followup. We have found that users have a wide range of computer skills that need to be addressed during and after the initial training.
Conclusions: We will show how this training and testing framework has benefited both the local and state users through better data management at the local and state health departments. An ongoing challenge is allotting time for training and practicing on the test site before taking the proficiency test. Other challenges include finding appropriate venues to train users, lack of IT support at the local level, and access to computers with internet connections.