Collaboration of public health and Health IT to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes

Advances in information technology are creating a plethora of opportunities to define health as more than just the absence of disease and to advance prevention through better evaluation of outcomes and better tracking of the underlying causes of illness and injury. For instance, community health indicators are being developed and used in communities across the country to redefine and democratize health data so that it measures elements of the community environment that shape health and safety. The community environment influences the behaviors and exposures of community members, which in turn shape health outcomes. By understanding and addressing the community-level factors that affect health and safety – factors such as access to healthy foods, parks, and safe streets – communities can transform outcomes.