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Public health informatics defined
Shawn Eastridge

It may not be a big surprise that the top reason for visits to our website come from one simple question: What is public health informatics? Those in the public health field often ask why there are so many “standard” definitions. Why isn’t there one definition that works best?

To explore these questions, we conducted an activity at a PHII staff meeting to have everyone on the team write the definition of informatics… in their own words.

The collection, analysis, sharing, and application of health-related information to make decisions and actions to improve health outcomes.
The field of public health informatics is based on making sense of all kinds of little data points and folding them into good, clear, useful information.
This diagram indicates that public health informatics lives in the overlap between public health and information technology.
Disciplined approach to solving information problems.
The bridge between IT and the “business”
The practice of bridging the gap between technology (information technology/ information systems) and public health for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information to improve public health outcomes.
The application of information systems and meaningful analysis of data to more fully understand and work to improve public health both on a population and individual level.
Understanding the flow of information/ data and how it impacts business.
All the things that are needed to work together to help people use information to improve health outcomes.
A field (of study) that uses human and technological resources to: collect and compile information, translate information, and use information to improve health outcomes of population.
How to understand information and use information technology to improve the work that you do in public health.
Collection, analysis, interpretation and application of public health information that help to drive decision which can improve public health.
Public health informatics is the effective use of information, processes and technology to advance health.
The use of information systems within public health.
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