[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#263D7B” background_image=”https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/trans10percent-scaled-1.png” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”2px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px|auto|14px|auto||” custom_padding=”97px||79px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”About DSWG” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Poppins|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”39px” width=”82%” custom_margin=”||1px|||” custom_padding=”|0px|6px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||45px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Background: Data Standardization at CSTE ” image=”https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Symbol-2.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”112%” content_max_width=”827px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Poppins|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#003070″ header_font_size=”27px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”|69px||-569px|false|false” custom_padding=”|0px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”_initial” text_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” text_text_color=”#263D7B” text_font_size=”22px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”|-306px|73px|||” custom_padding=”|3px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
When a disease outbreak occurs, public health agencies need to share information quickly and accurately. However, the way disease case data is collected and reported varies widely across states, territories, Tribal nations, and federal agencies. The same data element \u2014 such as when a patient first became ill \u2014 may be defined differently depending on the system, condition, or\u00a0jurisdiction\u00a0recording it. This inconsistency slows response times, creates\u00a0additional\u00a0burden for health departments, and limits the ability to analyze data across\u00a0jurisdictions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists\u2019 (CSTE) Data Standardization Workgroup (DSWG) brings together epidemiologists, informaticians, and public health professionals from state, Tribal, local, and territorial health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Together, they\u00a0identify\u00a0data elements common across many diseases and conditions \u2014 such as hospitalization status, pregnancy, travel history, and illness onset date \u2014 and develop clear, consensus-based definitions for each.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”CSTE\u2019s Data Standardization Process” image=”https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Symbol-2.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”112%” content_max_width=”827px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Poppins|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#003070″ header_font_size=”27px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”|69px||-569px|false|false” custom_padding=”|0px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”_initial” text_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” text_text_color=”#263D7B” text_font_size=”22px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”|-306px|66px|||” custom_padding=”|3px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Developing standardized data elements<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that work<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>across the public health system requires time,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>expertise<\/span>, and broad collaboration. The DSWG uses a structured, four-level review process to ensure that every definition we publish has been rigorously vetted \u2014 by subject matter experts, CSTE members, and the state and territorial epidemiologists who will implement them.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”What is %22core%22 data?” content_max_width=”984px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Poppins||||||||” header_text_color=”#263D7B” header_font_size=”27px” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_color=”#263D7B” body_font_size=”22px” border_width_left=”2px” border_color_left=”#263D7B” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Core<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>is a<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>designation applied to data elements and data classes that are<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>relevant across many diseases and conditions\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and are not specific to any single condition or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>condition<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>family. Core data elements and classes are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>identified<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by the DSWG as essential for routine public health case surveillance<\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>This designation does not mean a core data element\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is required to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be sent to CDC in all circumstances; rather,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>jurisdictions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>should ensure the element is available within their surveillance systems and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>transmit<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it when applicable and available.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/backbround-v1.0.png” title_text=”backbround v1.0″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”55%” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_blurb title=”Learn More” image=”https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Symbol-2.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”112%” content_max_width=”827px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Poppins|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#003070″ header_font_size=”27px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”|69px||-569px|false|false” custom_padding=”|0px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”_initial” text_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” text_text_color=”#263D7B” text_font_size=”22px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”|-306px|66px|||” custom_padding=”|3px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For a detailed overview of the data standardization initiative, including recommended actions for health departments and CDC programs, read the full policy brief:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Standardizing Core Case Notification Data Elements to Improve National and Jurisdictional Public Health Surveillance<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(CSTE, May 2025). [Link to policy brief<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.cste.org\/resource\/resmgr\/briefs\/25-PB-SI-01_Standardizing_Co.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a>]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When a disease outbreak occurs, public health agencies need to share information quickly and accurately. However, the way disease case data is collected and reported varies widely across states, territories, Tribal nations, and federal agencies. The same data element \u2014 such as when a patient first became ill \u2014 may be defined differently depending on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"dipi_cpt_category":[],"class_list":["post-242735","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/242735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=242735"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/242735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":242906,"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/242735\/revisions\/242906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=242735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dipi_cpt_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/datastandardization.cste.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fdipi_cpt_category&post=242735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}