1. What is the Emergency Medical Alert Network (EMAN)?
EMAN is a local public health emergency communication system dedicated to facilitating rapid, confidential communication between San Diego County medical and public health professionals to ensure rapid identification of and response to unusual disease events and public health emergencies. EMAN is a local system. It is similar to other public health alerting systems used in California such as the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) and throughout the United States as part of the national Health Alert Network program.
EMAN is administered by the Community Epidemiology Branch of the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Service Agency (HHSA).
Log on to EMAN portal
2. What is the alerting capability of EMAN?
For a significant public health threat, EMAN alerts may be sent using a “real-time” alerting feature. This “find-me-follow-me” technology can rapidly contact EMAN participants using multiple communications devices. Participants may receive these medium- or high-priority alerts via e-mail, telephone, fax, alphanumeric pagers, and cell phones.
3. Who are EMAN participants?
EMAN participants include public health and medical professionals in San Diego County. Examples of current EMAN participants include public health and safety officials, physicians and nurses (especially those with specialties in infectious disease, emergency medicine and primary care), infection control practitioners, laboratory and pharmacy directors and managers, and other medical professionals approved by HHSA.
4. What information is sent?
EMAN participants receive periodic alerts containing information on rare or unusual communicable diseases reported to HHSA, recommendations on communicable disease identification, prevention, infection control, specimen submission and laboratory testing.
EMAN participants are encouraged to report similar disease occurrence as observed in their profession or area of expertise.
5. How are EMAN alerts sent?
Standard EMAN alerts are sent via e-mail 1-3 times per month as unusual communicable disease of public health significance is reported to the Community Epidemiology Branch.
EMAN alerts are categorized by their level of urgency; low, medium or high. Standard EMAN alerts are categorized as low priority. A medium-priority alert would be sent for a relatively large disease outbreak or occurrence of a rare disease. A high-priority alert would be sent for a public health emergency, such as a smallpox outbreak. Medium- and high-priority alerts can be sent via pager, phone and /or fax, according to the alerting preferences indicated by individual EMAN participants.
An individual user name and password are required to access alerts. Once alert receipt is confirmed, participants are directed to a secure EMAN web portal at http://sdeman.org, to access the alert.
6. Are EMAN alerts confidential?
EMAN alerts may contain information on investigations in progress. These confidential alerts are intended for local medical and public health professionals only and should not be distributed further. Access to EMAN alerts is restricted to appropriate personnel as defined by Community Epidemiology. Reporting sources for unusual disease occurrence, unless otherwise requested, are also kept confidential.
Interested medical and public health professionals are encouraged to submit an EMAN application at http://www.emansandiego.com.
7. How does Community Epidemiology ensure the accuracy of information distributed by EMAN?
Disease reports received by the Community Epidemiology Branch are reviewed by the Chief of Community Epidemiology before relevant information is sent to EMAN participants. Every effort is made to verify information provided by reporting sources.
8. It’s confusing to me that EMAN has two websites. What’s the difference between the two?
EMAN has both a secure web portal and a public-access website. The secure EMAN web portal, located at http://sdeman.org, is where EMAN alerts and other important information are stored in a secure location on the Internet for authorized San Diego County public health and medical professionals. Information on the EMAN portal includes current and archived EMAN alerts, communicable disease information, bioterrorism resources, Physicians’ Bulletins and disease reporting information.
The public-access EMAN website at www.emansandiego.com includes an overview of EMAN, an EMAN online application, an EMAN self-registration tutorial, EMAN brochure, and web links to public health programs.
9. How do I apply for EMAN?
An EMAN application may be submitted online by clicking “Subscribe to EMAN” at www.emansandiego.com. An application must be submitted and approved prior to EMAN participation.
Personal information provided on the EMAN application is confidential and will not be shared or distributed. Personal contact information cannot be viewed by other EMAN participants.
10. What software does the new EMAN system use?
The upgraded EMAN system is based on software called Response Manager which was developed by Global Secure Corporation. The upgraded system includes many features not available on the old system, such as “real-time” alerting and a secure web portal.
11. How do I report legally reportable and/or unusual diseases?
Report unusual disease occurrence and legally reportable diseases to the Community Epidemiology Branch at (619) 515-6620. For urgent reports after hours, please call (858) 565-5255 and ask for on-call Epidemiology staff. Click here to access the “Report Communicable Disease” section of this website.
12. Who is the contact for EMAN?
If you have questions about EMAN, please contact the EMAN Manager at (619) 515-6620 or eman@sdcounty.ca.gov.
