This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 100 emergency department positive influenza-like illness (ILI) patients at an academic medical center to investigate which section(s) of a patient''s electronic medical record (EMR) contains the most relevant information for timely detection of ILI. The history of present illness and review of systems, followed by the nursing notes sections of the EMR were information rich and the most relevant sections for ILI surveillance for the study site.