CHNA 17 Grantee Showcase: Developing an Overdose Surveillance System in Cambridge, Massachusetts Kristin Ward, Epidemiologist Cambridge Public Health Department September 16, 2016

Cambridge Public Health Department DPH Capacity Building Grant: Overdose Surveillance System Development Completed Objectives: Audit of existing data sources for limitations: (1) timeliness, (2) geographical gaps, (3) underreporting, and (4) lack of info on non-Cambridge residents Requests to additional partners: Cambridge Health Alliance: monthly reports to quickly monitor demographic/temporal trends Pro EMS: real-time info on pickup location to create heat maps Cambridge Needle Exchange Program: annual report on individuals who did not call 911/were not captured by hospital or ambulance data Current/Future Objectives: SAS & ArcGIS analysis Addition of Mount Auburn Hospital data Best practices guide for regional partners

Outcomes & Lessons Learned As a result of this grant, CPHD has a thorough audit of existing data and their limitations and has a comprehensive plan in place to close these gaps CPHD has validated recommendations on ICD code use, nearly complete SAS code for analyzing hospital data, and SAS code in development for analyzing ambulance data This grant has allowed CPHD to increase its connection to the community through various citywide meetings and workgroups Lessons Learned: The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 provided challenges in data collection and interpretation Ambulance data requires subjective judgment calls on what is an overdose and what is not and cannot be interpreted with objective algorithms

Addiction is often hidden in plain sight. This building looks like most buildings in Cambridge. A closer look reveals a different story. Addiction is often hidden in plain sight. Gerardo, 10-Year Homeless Advocate Addiction is a disease of isolation. You can’t get better without community. Ed, Outreach Worker in Recovery Overdose prevention is a community responsibility. David, Cambridge Outreach Worker During a crisis, there is compassion, there is help. Let’s respond with compassion before crisis strikes. David, Cambridge Outreach Worker.