Role of public health informatics in building community infrastructure

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4110.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 12:30 PM

Abstract #50565

Jay Schindler, PhD, MPH, Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, 316 Waldo Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, 541.737.3830, Jay.schindler@orst.edu, Barbara L Massoudi, MPH PhD, TRW Systems, 2957 Clairmont Rd. Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30329, and Janise Richards, MS, MPH, PhD, Public Health Practice Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS K37, Atlanta, GA 30341.

Developing a community-based infrastructure for the use of technology in public health includes understanding the information needs of the public health worker; using knowledge management strategies to capture, manage, and share key data, information, and knowledge; and clearly understanding the core capabilities and domains associated with public health informatics. This session examines the results of a survey conducted on attendees from the 2001 ASPH Public Health Informatics & Distance Learning Conference who were asked questions about 1)assessing information needs for public health, 2)knowledge management activities currently occurring within public health agencies, and 3)roles and responsibilities associated with positions related to informatics and information technology. In addition, the researchers correlated survey findings with the competencies defining various job descriptions relating to public health informatics, information technology specialists, and public health workers.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session participants will be able to

1)Describe at least three of the domains of a public health informatician, and one major core capability within each of these domains
2)Define knowledge management and examples of its common activities in a community based agency,
3)Identify at least three of the factors that influence the information needs of the public health worker in a community.
4)Generate a rationale for incorporating knowledge management principles into the community based agency’s daily practice and policy.
5)Highlight the findings of the ASPH Conference attendee survey reported in the session.

Keywords: Public Health Informatics, 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.

Informatics and Concept Mapping in Health Care

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA