reported the number of ambulatory patient encounters with ILI by
clinical or coding criteria and the total number of patients seen. Data
were collected daily throughout the influenza season. The authors
found that data from this local ILI surveillance system were available
several days sooner than data from the state and regional ILI
systems, provided the ability to follow ILI rates at the individual
clinics, and detected early onset of respiratory illness in the student
health clinic. The authors concluded that the surveillance system
was effective in providing real-time, useful, accessible, and accurate
information that led to important organizational changes in
resource allocation, including staffing of an influenza-specific clinic
and implementing a telephone flu hotline.