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Rajamani S, Waterfield KC, Austin R, Singletary V, Odowa Y, Miles-Richardson S, Winters T, Powers B, LaRoche F, Trachet S, Fritz J, Leider JP, Wurtz R, Shah GH. Training in Public Health Informatics and Technology Leveraging a Multi-institutional Partnership Model and Emphasizing Experiential Learning. Appl Clin Inform 2024; 15:668-678. [PMID: 39142641 PMCID: PMC11324355 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Though public health is an information-intense profession, there is a paucity of workforce with Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) skills, which was evident during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This need is addressed through the PHIT workforce program (2021-2025) by the Office of the National Coordinator for training and to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the PHIT workforce. The objective is to share details on the Training in Informatics for Underrepresented Minorities in Public Health (TRIUMPH) consortium, funded by the PHIT workforce program. METHODS The TRIUMPH consortium is a collaboration between academic and practice partners with a commitment to training 879 students in PHIT. The Schools of Public Health and Nursing at the University of Minnesota, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Public Health Informatics Institute offer PHIT training through various programs. Academic institutions focus on student recruitment, developing courses/curriculum, and granting degrees/certificates, and the role of practice partners is to support experiential learning through internships/practicums. RESULTS The TRIUMPH consortium is progressing toward its goals, with 692 students (79%) already trained in a PHIT modality as of December 2023. The learners comprise diverse race/ethnicity, including White (48%), Black/African American (32%), Asian (10%), White Hispanic (5%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2%), and Black Hispanic (1%). Numerous internships have been completed in settings ranging from state/local public health agencies to health care delivery systems. Diversity initiatives were supported by partnering with existing programs (e.g., the AMIA First Look program and the Nursing Knowledge Big Data Science conference). CONCLUSION This consortium model is an excellent approach to informatics training and sharing expertise across partners. It provides scalability and broader geographic outreach while presenting opportunities to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Lessons learned have implications for overall informatics training (e.g., partnerships models, promoting racial/ethnic diversity).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sripriya Rajamani
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Kristie C. Waterfield
- Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, United States
| | - Robin Austin
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Vivian Singletary
- Public Health Informatics Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Yasmin Odowa
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | | | - Tony Winters
- Public Health Informatics Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Brenton Powers
- Department of Public Health Education, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Feather LaRoche
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Sarah Trachet
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jennifer Fritz
- Center for Health Information Policy and Transformation, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jonathon P. Leider
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Rebecca Wurtz
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Gulzar H. Shah
- Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, United States
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Overcoming Barriers to Experience Benefits: A Qualitative Analysis of Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange Implementation in Local Health Departments. EGEMS 2017; 5:18. [PMID: 29881738 PMCID: PMC5983057 DOI: 10.5334/egems.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) are changing surveillance and analytic operations within local health departments (LHDs) across the United States. The objective of this study was to analyze the status, benefits, barriers, and ways of overcoming challenges in the implementation of EHRs and HIEs in LHDs. Methods: This study employed a mixed methods approach, first using the 2013 National Profile of LHDs survey to ascertain the status of EHR and HIE implementation across the US, as well as to aid in selection of respondents for the second, interview-based part of project. Next, forty-nine key-informant interviews of local health department staff were conducted. Data were coded thematically and independently by two researchers. Coding was compared and re-coded using the consensus definitions. Results: Twenty-three percent of LHDs nationwide are using EHRs and 14 percent are using HIEs. The most frequently mentioned benefits for implementation were identified as care coordination, retrieval or managing information, and the ability to track outcomes of care. A few mentioned barriers included financial resources, resistance to change, and IT related issues during implementation. Discussion: Despite financial, technical capacity, and operational constraints, leaders interviewed as part of this project were optimistic about the future of EHRs in local health departments. Recent policy changes and accreditation have implications of improving processes to affect populations served. Conclusions: Overcoming the challenges in implementing EHRs can result in increased efficiencies in surveillance and higher quality patient care and tracking. However, significant opportunity cost does exist.
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