Public health can have many different aspects that one may not think of. For example, public health informatics focuses on using technology and informational science to promote the health of populations and plan strategies to prevent future diseases or problems that may arise(CDC).
Public health informatics use surveillance, which is the collection and analysis of data that is important for identifying where the problem first occurred and how to prevent it from spreading (Aziz). Through the data that is collected from surveillance systems, illnesses, and outbreaks can be easily identified and solved. They can detect symptoms of existing sicknesses from pedestrians and even diseases that are unknown to healthcare professionals. The data that is collected aids hospitals and clinics which then can easily utilize the data to determine how to proceed and prepare necessary materials or procedures. The recent boom in technology has also boosted surveillance systems. Data can be stored and retrieved easily, allowing healthcare workers to access essential data efficiently. Surveillance systems serve as a foundation for the health of all people.
These systems that they develop also help identify the causes of outbreaks and track the origin and the rate at which it is spreading. An example of this is the CDC’s flu view. This website creates a report that consists of data from surveillance systems. The reports provide graphs and data that are collected from the systems.
Computer science plays a huge role in public health informatics as it requires advanced technological skills and problem-solving techniques. Computer science professionals are required to create systems that can provide accurate data and that are cost-efficient. It is also needed in developing electronic data collection and creating health information exchange systems(Epstein). It plays a huge role in data collection and distribution between professionals allowing the public health industry to grow as a whole.
Overall, public health informatics is vital to public health and the well-being of people. Without these systems that they create, the healthcare industry and the health of citizens would deteriorate. Public health informatics is only one part of public health as a whole, yet it is one of the most important.
Works Cited
Aziz, H. A. (2017). A review of the role of public health informatics in healthcare. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 12(1), 78-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2016.08.011
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Introduction to Public Health. In: Public Health 101 Series. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2014. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/training/publichealth101/informatics.html.
Epstein, Jennifer A., “Collaborations Between Public Health and Computer Science: A Path Worth Pursuing.” American Journal of Public Health Research 1, no. 7 (2013): 166-170. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-1-7-4.
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