Applying Public Health Informatics to Developing a Training Database System and Investigating an Influenza Outbreak Open Access

Abstract

Background: Public health informatics (PHI), the science of managing public health information, is a relatively new field that encompasses wide-range of disciplines. The goal of PHI is to find the best way to apply technology to support the work of other public health professionals who use health information and management systems. The following portfolio comprises the planning and design of two information systems proposed to make information available to stakeholders, allowing me to apply my knowledge, skills, and abilities in public health informatics.

Key Aims: The goal of the first project was to plan and design a database system for National Public Health Institutes to increase their ability to efficiently operationalize, manage, monitor and evaluate their training efforts. The goal of the second project was to design an information system that would be used to facilitate the outbreak investigation and surveillance of a hypothetical emerging influenza in low-resource settings.

Methods and Results: A detailed design of the database system was developed by conducting all of the tasks for the early phases of the Database System Development Life Cycle. A high-level design was developed for the influenza information system based on similar systems and leveraging existing technologies.

Conclusion: While much work remains, I was able to both utilize my experience and gain new knowledge by laying the foundation for the establishment of both systems. With thorough, appropriate planning, each system would have a significant impact on public health if developed.

Table of Contents

Introduction.. 9

National Public Health Institute Training Database System... 11

Introduction. 11

Problem Statement. 11

Purpose Statement. 12

Methods. 12

Requirements Analysis. 13

Database Design. 18

Emerging Influenza Outbreak Investigation and Surveillance System... 20

Introduction. 20

FluSurv Overview.. 20

Definition. 21

Business Goal. 21

Business Objectives. 21

External Hardware. 21

Client Hardware. 22

Networks. 22

Summary of System Capabilities. 22

Data Requirements. 23

Surveillance and Epidemiology. 23

Cases and Contacts. 23

Project Management. 24

Information Flow and Workflow Process. 24

Outbreak Investigation and Surveillance Team.. 24

Healthcare Facilities. 25

Laboratory. 26

CDC.. 26

Application Design. 27

Data Analytics and Visualization. 28

Specific Visualizations. 28

Conclusion.. 29

NPHI Database System Discussion. 29

Public Health Implications. 29

Next Steps and Considerations for Implementation. 29

FluSurv Discussion. 30

Public Health Implications. 30

Next Steps and Considerations for Implementation. 30

Works Cited.. 31

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Executive Masters of Public Health - MPH
Subfield / Discipline	Applied Public Health Informatics
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Information Technology
Keyword	Informatics
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gaydos, Laurie, Emory University
Committee Members	Alperin, Melissa, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	International governmental organization (e.g., Agency for International Development, etc.)

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