COHORT: An Integrated Information Approach to Decision Support for Military Subpopulation Health Care

Abstract : Delayed recognition and response to health syndromes in the past have highlighted the critical need for real-time surveillance of the health status of forces as an enabling capability for decision makers. Real-time surveillance serves to alert health authorities and make possible rapid, appropriate, and effective responses to limit the adverse impact of occupational and operational threats to health. In support of Force Health Protection, the USAF Surgeon General has recognized a need for early detection of syndromes and epidemics in specific cohorts (subpopulations) over time. Cohort surveillance and monitoring require analytical tools and access to pertinent, timely, and consolidated medical data. The Composite Occupational Health and Operational Risk Tracking system (COHORT) addresses the USAF Surgeon General's need by providing real-time surveillance of the medical care and treatment of specified groups of military personnel across multiple medical health facilities throughout the world. The medical encounter data aggregated by COHORT provide input for timely detection and monitoring of occupational health concerns and disease trends, syndromes, and outbreaks. The early detection made possible by COHORT avails key decision makers the opportunity to formulate appropriate responses in time to make a difference in the outcome.