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Full article title A review of the role of public health informatics in healthcare
Journal Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences
Author(s) Aziz, Hassan A.
Author affiliation(s) Qatar University
Primary contact Email: Hassan dot Aziz at qu dot edu dot qa
Year published 2017
Volume and issue 12(1)
Page(s) 78-81
DOI 10.1016/j.jtumed.2016.08.011
ISSN 1658-3612
Distribution license Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Website https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1658361216301019
Download https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1658361216301019/pdfft (PDF)

Abstract

Recognized as information intensive, healthcare requires timely, accurate information from many different sources generated by health information systems (HIS). With the availability of information technology in today's world and its integration in healthcare systems; the term "public health informatics" (PHI) was coined and used. The main focus of PHI is the use of information science and technology for promoting population health rather than of individuals. PHI has a disease prevention rather than treatment focus in order to prevent chain of events or disease spread. Moreover, PHI often operates at the level of government rather than at the private sector. This review article provides an overview of the field of PHI and compares between paper-based surveillance systems and public health information networks (PHIN). The current trends and future challenges of applying PHI systems in KSA were also reported.

Public health informatics: Introduction and definition

Public health informatics (PHI) is defined as the systematic application of information, computer science, and technology in areas of public health, including surveillance, prevention, preparedness, and health promotion. The main applications of PHI are 1. promoting the health of the whole population, which will ultimately promote the health of individuals[1] and 2. preventing diseases and injuries by changing the conditions that increases the risk of the population.[2] Basically, PHI is using informatics in public health data collection, analysis, and actions. Emphasis on disease prevention in the population, realizing its objectives using a large variety of interventions, and work within governmental settings are aspects that make PHI different than other fields of informatics.[3] The scope of PHI includes the conceptualization, design, development, deployment, refinement, maintenance, and evaluation of communication, surveillance, and information systems relevant to public health.[4] PHI could be considered one of the most useful systems in addressing disease surveillance, epidemics, natural disasters, and bioterrorism. The use of computerized global surveillance and data collection systems, such as health information exchange (HIE) and health information organization (HIO), could assist in population-level monitoring. This could help to avert the negative impact of a widespread global epidemic.

Surveillance systems

Surveillance in public health is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data that are important for the prevention of injury and diseases. Through available data, possible early detection of outbreaks can be achieved through timely and complete receipt, review, and investigation of disease case reports. An inclusive surveillance effort supports timely investigation and identifies data needs for managing public health response to an outbreak or terrorist event.[5] Worldwide, governments are strengthening their public health disease surveillance systems, taking advantage of modern information technology to build an integrated, effective, and reliable disease reporting system.[6] A surveillance system, such as syndromic surveillance systems, could collect symptoms and clinical features of an undiagnosed disease or health event in near real time that might indicate the early stages of an outbreak or bioterrorism attack. For instance, local or regional public health departments could alert all the clinicians within an HIO about unique cases of a highly resistant infectious organism or a widespread of communicable diseases. Consequently, HIO can play an important role as part of PHI in providing available patient data in conditions of natural disaster when paper-based records might be destroyed or unavailable.

References

  1. Hoyt, R.E.; Yoshihashi, A.K., ed. (2014). Health Informatics: Practical Guide for Healthcare and Information Technology Professionals (6th ed.). Lulu.com. pp. 534. ISBN 9781304791108. 
  2. Chen, H.; Hailey, D.; Wang, N.; Yu, P. (2014). "A Review of Data Quality Assessment Methods for Public Health Information Systems". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11 (5): 5170-5207. doi:10.3390/ijerph110505170. PMC PMC4053886. PMID 24830450. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4053886. 
  3. Yasnoff, W.A.; O'Carroll, P.W.; Koo, D. et al. (2000). "Public health informatics: improving and transforming public health in the information age". Journal of Public Health and Management and Practice 6 (6): 67-75. PMID 18019962. 
  4. Choi, B.C. (2012). "The past, present, and future of public health surveillance". Scientifica 2012: 875253. doi:10.6064/2012/875253. PMC PMC3820481. PMID 24278752. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820481. 
  5. Kraft, M.R.; Androwitch, I.; Mastriak, K. et al. (2017). "Chapter 14: Informatics for Health Professionals". In Mastrian, K.; McConigle, D.. Informatics for Health Professionals. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN 9781284102635. 
  6. Wang, L.; Wang, Y.; Jin, S. et al. (2008). "Emergence and control of infectious diseases in China". The Lancet 372 (9649): 1598-1605. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61365-3. 

Notes

This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation, spelling, and grammar. PMCID and DOI were added when they were missing from the original reference. Otherwise, the article appears as originally posted, per the "no derivatives" portion of the license.