The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49063

Carl W. Wilson, MPH¹, Willis R. Bradwell Jr., MBA¹, Yvonne Claudio, MS², and Ebony A. Davis, MPH¹. (1) State Center for Health Statistics Administration, District of Columbia Department of Health, 825 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 442-5865, cwilson@dchealth.com, (2) University of Maryland University College, 15151 Deer Valley Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20906

This presentation outlines strategies for public health organizations to secure funding for building and maintaining IT infrastructure and maximizing prior investments. It will also discuss the importance of collaborative partnerships with federal, state, local, and direct service organizations to capitalize on existing resources. The discussion will identify barriers within public health organizations that preclude obtaining the resources required to develop and sustain information technology in public health organizations. Public sector entities face many challenges in financing technology projects in an environment of decreased public health funding. Recent terrorism crises demonstrate the inadequacy of existing public health IT infrastructure to effectively and efficiently undertake core functions. This need for information technology solutions presents the challenge of targeting funding streams the support of required IT initiatives. Fortunately, federal funders are providing resources. The emphasis by DHHS on data integration, HIPPA, and disaster preparedness/bio-terrorism is an opportunity that can be accessed by public health IT officials. Other federal, state, and local agencies are also making resources available to IT programs. Public health agencies can position themselves to access such funding by developing an IT strategic plan, outlining a logical approach to IT, which will strengthen the organization's ability to justify funding of its IT strategies. Another strategy in securing funds involves developing collaborative partnerships within the community that demonstrate that the recipient organization is working with other stakeholders to identify and implement solutions. Internal to public health organizations, developing such initiatives requires a concerted effort at integrating in-house strategies to enhance information technology.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify resources available to fund IT programs in public health departments.
• Identify strategies for securing funding.
• Describe challenges/barriers to funding.

Keywords: Funding, Information Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.