Introducing public health informatics into a new MPH program at a university

Background: Public health practice is data driven and increasingly supported by informatics and the use of health information technology. (HIT) Thomas Jefferson University's relatively new MPH program has courses in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, and other related fields, but has not offered continuing education nor has a course targeted to Public Health Informatics. Objective/Purpose: Increases in the use of health information technology are expected to greatly impact medical care, research, and specifically public and population health in the future. Public health practitioners and researchers need to be educated as to the opportunities and barriers about the expanding uses of health information for program and policy decision making. There is increasing need to develop strategies and approaches to manage and appropriately share data in their organizations, and to adopt national standards and practices. Methods: A two-hour Public Health Informatics Symposium was conducted in 2008, in collaboration with local health departments, utilizing national experts to coordinate and present an overview of national, state, and local initiatives in this area. Specific case examples of state and local projects using informatics to drive population health program and policy decisions were presented. Jefferson students, faculty, local health departments and the greater Philadelphia community participated in the event. As a result, public health informatics may be incorporated into the Jefferson MPH program current courses or offered as a separate elective course. Result: Provided future public health and clinical professionals with a basic understanding of public health informatics concepts, current developments and potential uses to support them in their respective practices. Conclusion: Incremental approach allows a new MPH program to introduce public health informatics and to evaluate future curriculum requirements and phase them in as individual courses, or integrated into existing courses, as student demand and new developments in public health informatics unfold.