Many state and territorial birth defects programs need guidance to increase their informatics knowledge to implement interoperable Birth Defects Surveillance (BDS) systems that lead to enhanced individual and population health.
In collaboration with CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), PHII is working with public health jurisdictions to strengthen the capacity of existing BDS programs to respond to emerging threats to mothers and babies. This increased capacity results from helping programs improve timeliness of surveillance data, leverage electronic health records (EHRs) and interoperability capabilities to enhance BDS, and use the surveillance data to improve health outcomes of affected populations.
Birth Defects Surveillance Readiness Assessment
This assessment helps birth defects programs determine your readiness for automated electronic data exchange using health information standards. It provides an approach for program staff to assess, identify and discuss information needs with internal and external partners. Participating in this assessment will give program staff a clearer understanding of success factors and the agency’s current capabilities.
Talking Points for Promoting Interoperability with Birth Defects Surveillance
These talking points should help public health professionals communicate with your leadership and colleagues on why interoperability is important to Birth Defects Surveillance (BDS) programs.
Webinars
PHII and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have produced a webinar series that includes:
First in a four-part series
Interoperability 101 for Birth Defects Surveillance
Introduces the topic of interoperability and defines key terms with examples for Birth Defects Surveillance (BDS) programs. PHII’s Lura Daussat and CDC’s Laura Pabst highlight trends, policies and initiatives that may impact leadership buy-in and resources for these programs.
Second in a four-part series
Achieving Interoperability: Practical Lessons Learned
Provides practical experiences from jurisdictions in Michigan and Georgia as they move toward interoperability with their BDS programs. PHII’s Lura Daussat and CDC’s Laura Pabst join two speakers who tell about the successes and challenges of modernizing their surveillance programs and the resources they used.
Third in a four-part series
An Overview of Data Modernization Efforts and Deep Dive into Electronic Case Reporting
Gives an overview of the data modernization initiative (DMI) efforts at CDC and local jurisdictions and how it aligns with BDS interoperability. Also offers guidance on how electronic case reporting (eCR) may be incorporated into BDS interoperability. PHII’s Tony Winters and CDC’s Laura Pabst join guest speakers to discuss how BDS goals align with data modernization planning.
Final in a four-part series
Overview of Public Health Interoperability Initiatives and a State’s Perspective
Examines practical experiences from jurisdictions in Tennessee and Michigan as they move toward interoperability with their BDS programs. PHII’s Tony Winters and CDC’s Laura Pabst join two speakers to discuss the successes and challenges of modernizing their surveillance programs and the resources they used.
Interoperability for Birth Defects Surveillance: A Readiness Assessment Tool
Explores how to conduct a readiness assessment using the tool developed by PHII with funding from the CDC. PHII’s Danielle Sill presents guidance targeted toward recipients of CDC’s birth surveillance cooperative agreement. The webinar also provides helpful background on building interoperability capability for any Birth Defects Surveillance (BDS) program. View the assessment tool.
Breaking Down the Silos
Highlights experiences, best practices and challenges from public health programs that are achieving interoperability initiatives by breaking down silos. The webinar includes guest presenters from Rhode Island, Iowa and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center of Vital Statistics.
A Focus on Business Process Analysis and System Requirements
Describes experiences, best practices and challenges from public health programs that are achieving interoperability initiatives by documenting business processes and gathering requirements. PHII’s Juneka Rembert presents on these topics including our Collaborative Requirements Development Methodology (CRDM).
Note: These materials were developed in support of Cooperative Agreement number 6-NU38OT000316, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Resource contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.
For questions about Birth Defects Surveillance (BDS) resources on this page, please contact us.
PHII is a program of The Task Force for Global Health, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded as the Task Force for Child Survival in 1984. The Task Force is affiliated with Emory University.
