The Department of Health oversees the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Program related to the control and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.  Services provided include: treatment for infected individuals, counseling, surveillance, screening, and public awareness and education.  The Department uses the Sexually Transmitted Disease Management Information System (STD*MIS) for STD case management, clinic visits, field investigations, and morbidity related reporting to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Department also administers the Children’s Medical Services (CMS) program to provide services to children with special health care needs.  Services are provided through a network of contracted clinics, hospitals, and physicians.  The Department maintains client and care coordination information in the Case Management Data System (CMDS).

Our reviews related to these systems for the period July 2002 through January 2004 disclosed areas in which the systems need improvements to ensure the integrity and timeliness of the data.  Specifically:

Sexually Transmitted Disease Management Information System

Finding No. 1:         Due to a lack of system integration, STD data is at increased risk of errors and delays.  The lack of integration also increases the staffing necessary to record and process STD cases and could inhibit the Department’s ability to ensure timely and accurate collection of STD data and facilitate treatment.

Finding No. 2:         The STD*MIS does not include features that ensure the accuracy of transaction  date and history, provide efficient patient identification, and prevent the entry of duplicate data.

Finding No. 3:         System security control weaknesses need to be addressed to protect the system’s sensitive data.

CMS Case Management Data System

Finding No. 4:         The absence of integration among CMDS area offices and between area offices and the central program office causes duplication of staff efforts and delays the central program office obtaining information needed to manage the CMS program.

Finding No. 5:         The inconsistent use of CMDS data fields lessens the reliability of the data and prevents effective matching of data with other Department and State systems.

The Secretary's response to the findings and recommendations contained in this report can be viewed on the Auditor General's Web site.