SDI Available to Provide Data Tracking for H1N1 Pandemic

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SDI:

WHO:			Laurel Edelman, vice president of clinical accounts at SDI, is available to provide up-to-date pharmaceutical and de-identified patient-level data that tracks the spread of the H1N1 virus.
			SDI, a leading provider of healthcare analytics and insight for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, maintains the largest influenza monitoring program in the United States. SDI has tracked and measured increases and the spread of influenza at the local city level across the country for over 25 years, and internationally as needed.
			Data reporting from SDI can assist with identifying, at the most sensitive level, an increase in influenza activity as well as the public response to vaccination efforts through vaccine administration tracking and vaccine coverage estimates in-season.
WHAT:			SDI can provide the following data relevant to the H1N1 virus:
			-- National Pandemic Index compares rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases to the 2003 - 2004 flu season
			-- Weekly reports tracking prescription activity (total prescriptions, new prescriptions) for Tamiflu and Relenza

BACKGROUND:

SDI consolidates electronic healthcare claims data to provide healthcare analytics and insight for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. SDI concentrates on analyzing de-identified patient data, measuring healthcare systems, and integrating and warehousing data.

FluSTAR® (www.FluSTAR.com), a nationwide primary surveillance system implemented by SDI and sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., collects extensive data from approximately 20,000 patients with influenza-like illness each season. Additionally, SDI’s Sentinel Laboratory Network monitors circulating strains of influenza by tracking influenza type, location, patient age, and the risk groups that are infected. This information is combined with physician office visit data to provide city-level, up-to-date influenza information as it happens.