Public Health Data Standards Tutorial

The PHDSC tutorial is divided into short modules describing different aspects of public health data and its use.

Module 1: What is Public Health?

For many, the concept of health care is usually attributed to a medical professional – most often a physician. When people are sick they seek medical care to regain their health. However, many do not think about the "public" side of  health and health care. This module defines public health, its role, and its relationship with medicine.

Module 2: What is the Structure and Function of Public Health Agencies?

The responsibility for the public health of the country is divided among the different levels of government: federal, state, and local. This module describes the different characteristics and roles of local, state, and federal public health agencies.

Module 3: What are Public Health Data?

Public health information or data are central to public health’s mission of improving health and preventing disease, injury and disability. Each of the programs or domains addressed through public health services rely on information to inform program design, monitor progress, fulfill reporting requirements, bill for services, evaluate programs and inform policy decision making. This module describes what public health data are.

Module 4: How are Public Health Data Used?

Data can be used to answer important questions about public health. This module examines how public health data are used through a discussion of data users, data flow and data definitions for health indicators. Finally, this module presents challenges faced when using public health data .

Module 5: Public Health Data Standards

This module includes a definition of data standards, a description of the various types of data standards that are used in medical care and public health, and a summary of the areas in which continued development of public health data standards is needed. In addition, the last section of this module outlines briefly the national process for setting data standards.

Module 6: Rationale for Moving to Data Standards in Public Health

The purpose of this module is to discuss the importance of data standards in public health.

Module 7: Public Health Relevant Data Standards Development or Implementation Efforts

In this module, examples of national and state standards development and implementation efforts are highlighted.

Module 8: Viewing Public Health Data and Data Standards in a Larger Context: Public Health Informatics

This module includes a definition of public health informatics, compares public health informatics to other health informatics disciplines, and discusses the importance of public health informatics to significantly improve public health practice. In addition, challenges to promoting the field are identified as well as entities involved.

Module 9: Improving Public Health Practice through Public Health Informatics Training

The purpose of this module is to profile existing public health and other health informatics education and training programs. In addition, core curricula associated with academic programs as well as possible gaps in course work are identified. The last section highlights current initiatives directed at promoting improved public health informatics education and training to improve public health practice.

If you need help defining terms about public health and data standards, use this Glossary