Sermo: Doctors Crowdsource Flu Data

Sermo FluMonitor is a sort of step from Google Flu Tracker which uses end-user queries about the flu to map where the disease is prevalent. The Sermo solution uses data uploaded by 100,000 doctors to do roughly the same thing - only with far more detail on the patient. Unlike Google’s solution, the doctor uploaded data is aggregated to the ZIP Code level and presented in near-real time.

Among the data available to members:

—Number of new cases in the last seven days and the increase over the prior week
—Number of cases confirmed with Rapid-Flu and percentage increase over the prior week
—Age range of patients
—Top presenting symptoms

The Cambridge, Mass-based company thinks the model could be used for other diseases.

- press release
- via Xconomy