Background: One of Public Health's core functions is to assess health status and needs by data collection and analysis. The Georgia Division of Public Health has identified a need to strengthen its capacity in this area by implementing an Integrated State Public Health Information System (IPHIS).
Methods: A comprehensive assessment of existing public health information system activities being managed, developed and/or implemented statewide in Georgia was conducted in order to facilitate the development of IPHIS. This assessment consisted of structured interviews of data managers at the state level and a thorough review of the data elements from each database. Secondly, a survey was mailed to data users to ensure that IPHIS is tailored to their needs.
Results: 102 databases were identified from the statewide assessment. Each database was surveyed in four areas: database characteristics, database management, data elements, and data dissemination properties. There were no standard methods utilized in any of these areas. 304 data users were surveyed in three key areas: sources of data, uses of data, and training needs. Sources of data most commonly used were surveillance data, and clinical services data. Most of the data was used to prepare reports and to respond to data requests. Training needs included the following topics: the use of data for health planning, database management and data analysis.
Conclusion: Data standardization and training of data users in the use and application of data, is critical to the development of IPHIS. The infrastructure for standardization and training is currently being developed
Keywords: Assessments, Data/Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.