5249.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 5:00 PM

Abstract #15594

The role of data standards in public health surveillance

D. Mead Walker, The Huntington Group, 1199 Hopewell Road, Downingtown, PA 19353, 610.518.6259, mead_walker@idx.com

Within the public health environment there is a continuous process of information collection and flow to support the needs for information on reportable diseases, and known health problems. Public health functions use data collected in doctors offices, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Almost any data collected through caring for patients is potentially relevant to public health. However, categorical federal funding has led to a proliferation of applications for managing this process at the federal, state, and local levels.

Data standards are needed to allow these disparate computer systems to work together. Without agreed upon standards, each flow of information from one computer to another requires the creation of bilateral, private agreements. In public health settings, the existence of multiple independent points for collecting and using information, makes reliance on “bilateral standardization” extremely expensive. Across the entire healthcare sector, the cost is prohibitive. Therefore, without data standards, information exchange is limited, and it is impossible to flexibly and reliably pool information. However, that is exactly what is needed to fulfill the public health mission.

This paper will describe the components of data standards including: format of messages between systems, triggers or occasions for information exchange, vocabulary, and the technology used to support messaging. It will review the status of current data standards development efforts. And it will also discuss how data standards can benefit public health by reducing the cost of collecting the information, improving the quality of data, and supporting more timely and effective analysis of the data.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants will be able to: 1. Describe the benefits of data standards for public health data collection. 2. Define the components of data standards. 3. Identify standards development efforts relevant to public health settings. 4. Discuss the application of data standards in their organization

Keywords: Information Technology, Data Collection

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an employee of the Huntington Group. We have been retained to map the NCVHS Core Data Elements to Health Level 7 data standards. This work will be referenced in the presentation.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA