janise richards, ms, mph, phd jrichards@cdcintegrating informatics prin ciples in public health...

Introduction to

Public Health Informatics

Definitions, Approach, and Analysis

Janise Richards, MS, MPH, [email protected]

Integrating Informatics Principles in Public Health

Public Health Informatics: What is it?

A Definition:

Public health informatics is the systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning.

What does that mean????


A Definition:


What is Public Health Informatics?


Information science

Theories in information science try to explain how we think, store, retrieve, and transmit information.



Information Science

Data Data Data

InformationInformation

Knowledge

WisdomWisdom


Definition of DataDefinition of Data

Cleveland, 1983

Information Science

Data = undigested observations and unvarnished facts

Fact, text, graphic, image, soundWithout meaningful relation to anything elseA thing


DefinitionDefinition ofof InformationInformationInformation Science

Information = organized data

Formatted, filtered, organized, structured, interpreted, summarized datadata + meaning = information

Relates to a description, definition or perspective (what, who, when , where)


Definition of KnowledgeDefinition of KnowledgeInformation Science

Knowledge = information that has been organized, internalized and integrated with experience, study, or intuition

Case, rule, process, model, ideasRules and procedures that guide decisions and actionsInformation + application = knowledgeComprises of strategy, practice, method, or approach (how)


Information Science

Vocabularies - A vocabulary is a set of words known to a person or other entity, or that are part of a specific language

Classifications - A classification consists of tables of subject headings and classification schedules used to assign a class number to each item being classified

Taxonomies - A hierarchical taxonomy is a tree structure of classifications for a given set of objects; it may also apply to relationship schemes other than hierarchies, such as network structures.. A taxonomy might also be a simple organization of objects into groups, or even an alphabetical list. In current usage taxonomies are seen as slightly less broad than ontologies.

Ontologies – seek to describe the basic categories and relationsh of being or existence to define entities and types of entities within its framework.


Information Science – MeSH(controlled vocabularies)

AbnormalitiesAbnormalities, Drug Induced Abnormalities, Multiple

Alagille Syndrome Angelman Syndrome

Diseases Digestive System Diseases

Abdominal Pain Biliary Tract Diseases Digestive System Abnormalities Digestive System Fistula Digestive System NeoplasmsEsopageal Diseases Gastrointestinal Diseases Liver Diseases Pancreatic Diseases Peritoneal Diseases


Information Science-


Information Science– Semantic Network (Ontology)STY|T001|Organism|A1.1|Generally, a living individual, including all plants and animals.|Homozygote; Radiation Chimera; Transgenic Organisms|||orgm||STY|T002|Plant|A1.1.1|An organism having cellulose cell walls, growing by synthesis of inorganic substances, generally distinguished by the presence of chlorophyll, and lacking the power of locomotion. Plant parts are included here as well.|Pollen; Potatoes; Vegetables|||plnt||STY|T003|Alga|A1.1.1.1|A chiefly aquatic plant that contains chlorophyll, but does not form embryos during development and lacks vascular tissue.|Chlorella; Laminaria; Seaweed|||alga||


A Definition:




Computer science:

Is the systematic study of algorithmic processes that describe and transform data and information –including the theory, analysis, design, efficiency, implementation and application



A foundational concept in computer science is the algorithm-- a precise sequence of instructions

Basically, a computer program is an executable algorithm

A second foundational concept in computer science is the data structure, or an abstract representation of information

Computer science:What is Public Health Informatics?


Computer Science

Algorithms - is a procedure (a finite set of well-defined instructions) for accomplishing some task which, given an initial state, will terminate in a defined end-state

Data models - is a concrete representation of an information model. It represents the entities, properties, relationships and operations defined in an information model in a manner that allows actual instances of those entities to be managed, manipulated, stored, operated upon and verified

Natural language processing - Natural language generation systems convert information from computer databases into normal-sounding human language, and natural language understanding systems convert samples of human language into more formal representations that are easier for computer programs to manipulate

Expert systems/artificial intelligence/decision support systems


Computer Science


Information Technology:

Information technology is the development and use of hardware, software, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information.



Public health and informatics

Informatics Public Health

Public Health Informatics


formulate models for acquiring, representing, processing, displaying or transmitting health information or knowledgedevelop computer systems that use the models to deliver the information or knowledge install information technology systems to support the modelsassess outcomes regarding the effects to the overall health care system

Creative acts people in Informatics do…

Friedman, 1995


Public Health Workforce and Informatics

3 Classes of Informatics

Development of information systems to improve the effectiveness of the public health enterprise

Use of information (per se) for professional effectiveness

Use of information technology for personal effectiveness


Expertise level needed by Workforce Segment

Advanced

Moderate

Basic

Front-lineStaff

Sr.-levelTechnical

Superv./Managers

Use of info technologyincrease personal effectiveness

Development andmanagement of Information systems


Public Health Workforce

13 topical areas


Confidentiality and security systems

Human resource managementDatabases

StandardsResearch

AccountabilityProcurement

Project managementSystem development

Use of informationOn-line information access

Electronic communicationDigital Literacy


Public Health Workforce

Competency examples


Participates in the development of new and enhanced databases for public health and applies principles of good database design.

Tech-Sup./Mgmt

Utilizes proven informatics principles and practices when managing information technology projects.

Sup./Mgmt

Applies relevant procedures and technical means to ensure confidential information is appropriately protected.

All staff

Utilizes information technology for full range of electronic communication appropriate to their programmatic area.

All staff


Why is informatics important to public health?

We can do it the hard way or the right way, but either way the application of information technology to public health practice is inevitable

O’Carroll, 2001


Public Health Informatics Needed approach

Multidisciplinary/collaborativeSystematicAppliedIntegratedManagement

ProjectChange


Public Health Informatics: Applications not Public Health Specific

Electronic Data CollectionCollaborative toolsGeographic Information Systems (GIS)Data Visualization toolsKnowledge Management Systems (KMS)Electronic Health Record (EHR)Decision Support Systems


Public Health Informatics: Applications Specific to Public Health

RegistriesElectronic Lab ReportingElectronic Disease SurveillanceEarly Event DetectionProgram Monitoring and Evaluation


PHIN

The Public Health Information Network


HealthDepartment

Public HealthLab

CDC and OtherFederal

Organizations

Public

VaccinationCenter

AmbulatoryCare

Hospital orHealth Plan

InvestigationTeam

Law Enforcement and First Responders

RXPharmaceutical

Stockpile

Early DetectionSources

The many public health stakeholders

The many data streams

The need for rapid communication!


Federal Health Architecture & Consolidated

Health Informatics, NHII

Early Event DetectionBioSense, NEDSS Base System, PAM Development Platform, Call Triage and Tracking

Outbreak ManagementOutbreak Management System

Connecting Laboratory SystemsLaboratory Response Network Results Messenger, LUNA

Partner Communication and AlertingPartner Communication and Alerting, Epi-X

Countermeasure Administration and Response

Countermeasure Response Administration, VAC Man

Cross Functional ComponentsPHIN Directory, PHIN Messaging Service, PHIN Vocabulary


National Health Information Network (NHIN)

Personal/Consumer

PublicHealth/

CommunityResearch/

Policy

Clinical/Provider


Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs)

AKA Health Information Exchanges (HIEs)AKA Local Health Information Infrastructure Initiatives (LHIIs)


HealthDepartment

Physician’sOffice



AmbulatoryCare Health Clinic

Physician’sOffice

Physician’sOffice

Hospital orHealth PlanPrivate and

Public HealthLabs


Common Ground

Purpose: Transforming Public Health Information Systems will support state and local public health agencies' collaboration in two areas:

1) to prepare agencies to analyze and redesign their business processes; and 2) to develop collaborative requirements definitions for information systems to strengthen public health agencies that will help to improve preparedness and chronic disease prevention and control.

Transition

janise richards, ms, mph, phd jrichards@cdcintegrating informatics prin ciples in public health...

Documents