Oregon Public Health Epidemiologists' User System (Orpheus)
Orpheus is an integrated electronic disease surveillance systems intended for use by public health epidemiologists and disease investigators to help with efficient and effective management of communicable disease reports. In 2008, development of the Orpheus, was co-sponsored by the Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention (ACDP) and the HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Tuberculosis (HST) Programs within the Oregon Public Health Division. The Environmental Health Program began using Orpheus to monitor lead exposures in 2013, cadmium exposures in 2016, and pesticide exposures in 2019. In July of 2020, a new COVID-19 specific module called Opera was launched. Opera was moved in to hibernation August 2023 after the public health emergency expired on May 11, 2023.
Orpheus exemplify efforts to modernize public health data exchange. Most case investigations are initiated by the electronic laboratory reports (ELR) or
electronic case reports (eCR). The ELR and eCR reports are integrated into the system and then become available for Tribal health, local public health and state public health users, who work together on case investigation and follow-up. Orpheus is interoperable with several of Oregon’s public health systems. Automated functionality with the syndromic surveillance system (ESSENCE), the immunization information system (ALERT IIS), and the state's Medicaid system (MMIS) are time saving and helps improve investigation and reporting.
Orpheus uses a commercial off-the-shelf application (FileMaker Pro), which is compatible with national standards, and leverages the state's enterprise information architecture, such as the Citrix access gateway, to assure that it complies with the highest level of security and confidentiality.
Security Documents and Access
If you are a new case investigator and need to request access to Orpheus, please work with your supervisor and your agency's Overall Responsible Party (ORP) to accomplish the following:
- Complete your agency's Information Security and Privacy Training
- Watch the applicable data and confidentiality online videos for Orpheus (videos)
- Thoroughly read the OHA Security Policies and Procedures (pdf)
- ORP submits request for new users using the web based Orpheus Oath form (web link)
- User will receive an email with a link to complete an electronic version of the Confidentiality Oath (pdf)
- When approval is complete the new user and OPR receive a copy of the signed oath for their records
Security Resources
- OHA Security Training
- Cross-jurisdictional Sharing
System User Training
Orpheus users are encouraged to utilize the following resources:
- Please sign up for a monthly User Group meeting on the second Thursday of the month from 1:30-2:30pm:
User Group Meeting Registration (web link)
- To view past User Group meeting recordings, please email the Orpheus Support Team at
Orpheus.Odpe-Tech@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
- While the video or document below may reference Opera or Orpheus, the information is mostly interchangeable between the applications. These materials are intended for Local Public Health Authorities, Tribal Health Authorities and their partners.