The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56698

Carol Floyd, RN, BSN¹, Nancie S. Bendana, RN, MS¹, and Noël Bazini-Barakat, RN, MPH². (1) Public Health, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 241 North Figueroa St. Rm. 320, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-240-8251, cfloyd@dhs.co.la.ca.us, (2) Public Health Nursing Administration, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 251 North Figueroa St., Rm 347, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Following the Institute of Medicine report in 1988, extended effort has been taken to improve the infrastructure within which public health is practiced. At the same time, rapid progress in computer technology has occurred during the 1990s, enhancing its potential and usefulness to public health. In recent years, a push has occurred at the national, state and local levels of public health to improve the efficiency of public health practice and more effectively use the potential stored in computerized technology and informatics. Public Health Nursing (PHN), comprising one of the largest disciplines within public health, has often been at the forefront of this discussion. Since a majority of public health nurses work in communities, necessitating mobility, a need existed to create a computerized system for PHN that was comprehensive in scope and ability, and also versatile, secure and mobile. Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Public Health Nursing and Public Health Information Systems partnered to develop a computerized system to be fully operational by December 2003. This system gathers epidemiological data input by PHN during assessments in the community, provides real time statistical information about major issues impacting communities, and serves as a defacto tracking system for nurses and supervisors, assuring members of the community are assessed and that interventions are timely. In the first stage of development, the system will include a log-in system and field/menus to document PHN assessments, client/family acuity levels and consumer and community service.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Describe the components of the Los Angeles County Public Health Nursing computerization system.
• Verbalize three benefits of information systems technology for field public health staff.
• Identify components of the computerized system which would be relevant to own work setting.

Keywords: Information Technology, Public Health Informatics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Public Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment