Using Electronic Health Records (EHR) for Disease Surveillance (EHR-DS) to Support UN SDGs

Abstract

The spread of disease is a significant threat to the health and safety of all global citizens. Recent events show that disease migration is a never-ending struggle for the international community. In December 2019, the global community came face-to-face with another deadly, persistent, and resilient threat: the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. COVID-19 is multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual, and has no geopolitical, religious, socio-economic, or cultural bias. While man insatiably looks for ways to elevate himself above others who may not look like him, segregate himself from those who earn less than him, or marginalize those less fortunate than him, COVID-19 is on World tour, like a sadistic music band. All are welcome; regardless of ethnicity, religion, or economic status, admission is free. The United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the British National Health Service, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal, the Chinese Center for Disease and Prevention, and the French Santé publique France and other public and global health organizations worked tirelessly; collaborating, sharing data and resources to slow the spread COVID-19 to create and distribute vaccines. The collaboration was adequate but reactionary; it was too late for some. COVID-19 has killed over 6 million people globally. Although the convergence of data in the global health community was effective, it was reactionary, contact tracing was difficult, and frontline health providers and non-clinical workers were not prepared. However, making computational convergence a priority in global healthcare in the United Nations Agenda 30 Sustainment Development Goals (SDG) will prepare and empower global health organizations to take appropriate and timely steps, not if but when the next pandemic arrives.