STC Blog
Significant Strides Occurring in Modernization of Public Health ITMike Popovich - STC CEO
Modernization of the national health technology environment is occurring through a variety of investments in the health sector. A focus on prevention to minimize the risk of disease and support health care cost containment, sharing of patient medical records, and technology initiatives in home health care are just a few of the areas where modernization is occurring. Public health stands to gain significantly from new data sources to support real or near real time surveillance, disease management, intervention assessments, and population health initiatives.
This has been recognized by the evolving meaningful use criteria established to ensure the investments in HIT produce the desired results. Population health meaningful use criteria are included, notably in the sharing of immunization records and information, electronic laboratory data exchange, and syndromic surveillance for early warning and disease detection.
The question becomes, is public health ready? The answer is yes. Not only are they ready, there are many examples across the U.S. in which the public health informatics sector represents current best practices in health information exchange. Public health technology has evolved significantly from 2001 when investments were made to improve the early warning and disease surveillance and reporting areas as a result of outbreaks such as SARS and bioterrorism concerns. In the preceding years prior to the investments for preparedness, the national public health information environment grew significantly through the leadership of the CDC National Immunization Program which facilitated the modernization of statewide immunization systems to reduce the risk of vaccine preventable diseases in children.
Modernization of the public health infrastructure is far from complete, however within the current Meaningful Use Criteria under HIT programs, it is remarkable that the three key areas in which public health technology has grown the most significantly are immunizations, disease reporting, and surveillance. Public health is not only ready in these areas to participate actively in HIE initiatives, they are likely to be one of the key success factors and potential partners for justifying sustainability.
Posted on: July 1, 2010 | Links: Facebook |
