The Health Alert Network (HAN) is a nationwide, integrated information and communication system serving as a platform for national disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation, training, electronic laboratory reporting and rapid communication. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is leading the development of the HAN. The HAN Information Technology (IT) Capacity Inventory was developed by the CDC, Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO) in collaboration with the HAN directors and the state Distance Learning Coordinators of the funded HAN projects. The data collected in the inventory produced a “snapshot” of IT and Distance Learning (DL) capacity, particularly as it related to the HAN architectural standards and specifications. The HAN assessment consisted of gathering baseline data in two areas, Information Technology and Distance Learning (DL). The state HAN directors and Distance Learning Coordinators collected information from their local health jurisdictions. The respondents were the public health Emergency Response Coordinators (ERC) of the funded local health jurisdictions and the 50 state Distance Learning Coordinators. The IT capacity assessment included 37 HAN-funded states and one city-based project (Los Angeles). Prior to implementation, the state HAN director determined the units of analysis for the local health jurisdictions based on their HAN project plan (e.g., individual freestanding local health jurisdictions and/or clusters of small local health jurisdictions linked by means of a modem into a regional high-speed HAN node).
Learning Objectives: The attendees with gain an understanding of information technology and distance learning capacitiy, particularly as it relates to the Health Alert Network architectural standards and specifications.
Keywords: Information Technology, Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.