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A professional in public health or health informatics (an informatician) requires knowledge and skills from multi-disciplines. According to your background, could you briefly discuss what kinds of knowledge and skills that you would need to gain in order to improve your profession in public health or health informatics.
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To be a good health informatics, one must have skills and knowledge in the fields of health, information technology, and how to deal with people (Health+IT+People). Additionally, it is a multi-disciplinary field that requires understanding teamwork, project management, and ethical issues. As for me, I am a medical doctor and so, I have knowledge of health related issues but the areas that I need to improve are the remaining two fields: information technology and issues related to population.
To improve my skills in information technology, I need to learn more about skills related to information science and technology basics. These areas include data management for health information systems, strong knowledge in statistics, and programming languages like R to run statistical tests and data analysis. Additionally, cloud computing would be the next step to improve to upgrade my skills for data storage.
To improve my skills in dealing with people, I need to learn more about how to work with other people as a team, how to manage a project, how to collaborate with people from different fields and backgrounds, and how to communicate my data-driven insights with other people. These are the fundamentals skills that I require if I want to be a good health informatician.
Additionally, there are some areas in health that need to competent in the fields of as well. As a medical doctor, I was trained to treat people. But as a public health informaticians, I need to be able to prevent vulnerable points in the causal chains before anything happens. (Magnuson & Fu, 2013, p. 3) So, I need to change my perspective from treating people to preventing them before it happens. As a result, I need to improve my skills in epidemiology, health behavior, and public or community health as well to be a better health informaticians.
References
Magnuson, J. A., & Fu, P. C., Jr. (Eds.). (2013). Public health informatics and information systems (2nd ed.). Springer Science & Business Media.-
Hello Aung Thura Htoo, thank you for sharing your experience and outlining the areas you aim to improve.
I completely agree that focusing on information technology skills, such as data management, statistics, programming, and cloud computing, is both strategic and practical for handling complex health data effectively.
Moreover, your emphasis on developing interpersonal skills such as teamwork, project management, and effective communication demonstrates a strong commitment to collaborative work and efficient knowledge sharing. These skills are indeed crucial for success in the field of health information technology which heavily relies on interdisciplinary collaboration. 🙂
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As a statistician working in a large government hospital, my primary role involves managing and analyzing medical and patient data. My main responsibility is extracting patient data from the hospital’s database to support research and assist in management decisions. To advance my profession in public health or health informatics, I need a diverse set of knowledge and skills, including:
Advanced Statistics and Biostatistics: This knowledge enables me to analyze health data effectively and support decision-making.
Health Informatics and Computer Skills: To further develop my expertise in statistics and data analysis, I need to be proficient in managing and analyzing large datasets, working with enterprise databases, and designing information systems. Ensuring data security and privacy in health information systems is also crucial.
Public Health: A deep understanding of public health principles, such as epidemiology, disease prevention, and health promotion, is necessary for applying informatics solutions to address health issues. Which helps me use data to support health planning and policy effectively.
Communication and Management: Collaborating with diverse teams, such as IT professionals, medical personnel, and other stakeholders, requires strong communication and management skills. These abilities are crucial for coordinating projects and achieving goals effectively.
By developing these areas, I can better contribute to data-driven decision-making and the improvement of health information systems, which are vital for enhancing public health outcomes.
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Hello Wannisa Wongkamachan, thank you for sharing your experience and the areas you need to be improved. Yes, I believe too that learning advanced statistics and public health principles like disease surveillance and epidemiology concepts can upgrade your skill sets necessary to support the management team in their decision making process.
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Public Health informatics is an interdisciplinary approach requiring the application of knowledge from numerous disciplines, particularly information science, computer science, management, organizational theory, psychology, communications, political science, and law; practically it incorporates knowledge from other fields that contribute to public health, including epidemiology, microbiology, toxicology, and statistics (Magnuson & Paul, 2014).
As an informatician, he must supervise and coordinate that the professionals involved are aligned with the goal of a project. There are common knowledge and skills required for creating a public health information system. Despite having a background in computer science and medicine, there are gaps in knowledge and skills I need to acquire. In this paragraph, I will outline the knowledge and skills that I would need to gain to improve my profession in public health or health informatics according to the Centers for Disease Control (n.d.):
1. Vision and System Planning: This step, requires a broad knowledge of public health practice, proficiency in information technology, and capacity for innovation. Personally, I would definitely need to learn public health knowledge and practice since the project aims to solve public health issues. Otherwise, it would certainly be difficult to see the existence of a problem and envision the right solution.
2. Health Data Standards and Integration: This step involves expertise in health data standards, database design, and data linking and integration across health systems. Normally, whenever a health project is developed, it is built with a silo format which disables interoperability between other systems. To me, this is a very new topic and the most important topic I need to learn because system development without standardization, in my opinion, leads to hairball architecture.
3. Data Privacy and Security: In this phase, it depends on the knowledge of health data privacy and an understanding of information technology security functions. This topic is a serious topic I need to acquire because every health information system must respect individual privacy and obey regulations. Otherwise, regardless of a good system, it would have already been a failed system that has no restrictions on abusing, marketing, and researching individual medical information.
4. System Design and Implementation: This stage needs expertise in health systems and data interoperability designed through public health function, data element, data flow, message mapping, and case definitions. This step is a part that I have already gained expertise in.
5. Visualization, Analysis, and Reporting of Health Data This phase basically requires wisdom to understand the pattern of data collected and the probability of the next events such as disease outbreaks. Without the foundation of public health, statistics, and analysis, it would be highly unlikely to visualize the meaning behind the data.
In summary, public health, data standardization, privacy and security, analysis, visualization, and reporting are certain skillset I need to become familiar with and then become proficient in.
References:
Magnuson, J., & Fu, P. C. (2014). Public Health Informatics and Information Systems. In *Computers in health care*. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4237-9
Center of Disease Control. (n.d.). Public Health 101 Series: Introduction to Public Health Informatics [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/training-publichealth101/media/pdfs/introduction-to-public-health-informatics.pdf
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Hello Cing Sian Dial, thank you for sharing your needed skills in step-by-step approach. Yes, since we are new in this field of informatics, we have to learn new sets of concepts, skills, and tools so that the system we design are standardized, interoperable, secure, and assist policy makers by providing data-driven insights.
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According to video lecture, I knew, I need to know more about People, Health, IT relation. It must have skills and knowledge in the health, information technology and how to deal or communicate with people to be a good health informatic. I need to focus on Information rather than technology and health population, focus on prevention rather than treatment, and deal with a government context rather than private sector.
Additionally, in the multidisciplinary approach to understand information technology, computer science, management, data from various sources (public health), law and statistics.
To more understand Public Health information system, I must know these components public health officer, health informatician and IT professional.
It can create by 5 steps.
Step1- System Planning (knowledge of public health practice, proficiency in IT and capacity for innovation).
Step2- Health Data standards and integration (expertise in health data standards and database design(relational/SQL), data management and data linking and integration across health systems).
Step3- Data privacy and Security (knowledge of health data privacy).
Step4- System Design and Implementation (expertise in data exchange in health system)
step5- the final step is – Visualization, Analysis and Reporting of Health data (expertise in public health practice, business intelligence, decision making and use of analytic software).
From reading assignment, I got a lot of knowledge about public health informatics and must learn more and more about it.
I interested about some topics “Driver for Change: Health Reform, Advances in Information Technology”.
In this topic, adaptation process of Electronic Health Record (EHR) and explanation of information system development projects that means the internet was more important as both a universal Commuinications medium and source of universal GUI-WWW accessed with internet browser software.I love one word is “meaningful use” from that chapter, Meaningful Use is planned to develop three stages.
stage1 : data capture and sharing (concentrates on capturing data electronically and standardized format and report clinical quality measures and public health information.
Stage2 : Advance clinical processes (emphasizes increased health information exchange and e-prescribing, and incorporation of lab results.
Stage3: Improved Outcomes (planned to lead to better outcomes through elevated quality safety and efficiency and to improved population health.I am not medical background, that’s why I have to learn health standards,
health practice, community health services but also have to learn more about informatics.
All of colleague, discuss and leave suggestions to be a good health informatics.References
J.A. Magnuson • Paul C. Fu, Jr.
Editors Public Health Informatics and Information Systems (Second Edition) -
Leadership and management in public health skills will play pivotable role in establishing a robust Health Information System (HIS) within the local health system. Such a system would not only promote standardization but also facilitate interoperability between various subsystems, including the Human Resource Information System, Pharmacy/Logistics/Supply Chain Management System, and Vaccine Management Information System.
However, it is important to note that building a strong HIS without effectively translating the gathered information into actionable knowledge will limit its efficiency and impact. Therefore, encouraging the utilization of the knowledge derived from the established HIS will significantly enhance disease prevention, health promotion, and surveillance efforts. In that case, knowledge in public health epidemiology is the key to understanding the disease patterns, identifying risk factors, and developing effective strategies for disease prevention and control.
In short, leadership and governance skills in health systems are essential for developing an integrated and interoperable HIS that not only improves data exchange among local health stakeholders but also ensures that this data is used for informed health planning, decision-making, and health system reform based on community needs. -
To be a professional in public health or health informatics, I need knowledge and skills in health, technology, and people.
Understanding healthcare systems, public health, and medical terminology is essential to recognize the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. Knowing how diseases spread and affect people helps in making informed decisions to protect public health.
In terms of technology, skills in data management, health information systems, and basic programming are key. These enable you to handle large amounts of health data and create tools that make healthcare more efficient. It’s also important to understand how health systems work to ensure smooth integration of technology into healthcare processes.
Finally, people skills are crucial. Good communication helps you work well with healthcare professionals, IT teams, and patients. Understanding the needs of doctors, nurses, and patients is important for developing user-friendly systems. Managing change and helping people adapt to new technology is essential, as you’ll often introduce new systems into healthcare environments.
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Hello Tanaphum Wichaita (aka Jumbo), thank you for providing the areas you needed to be improved. Yes, many people do not heed the importance of good communication in the field of health informatics. Actually, good communication between people is one of the essential skills an informatician need to harness to communicate the data-driven insights and inform them of those insights and concepts.
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Based on my background as a data manager (DM) and Clinical Research Associate (CRA) in the clinical research field, I would need to gain the following knowledge and skills to further improve my profession in public health or health informatics:
1) Health Data Standards and Interoperability:
Knowledge: Learn about health data standards which are essential for sharing and integrating health data across systems.
Skills: Gain the ability to ensure data integrity, quality, and seamless interoperability between various health informatics systems.
2) Epidemiology and Biostatistics:
Knowledge: Understanding core public health concepts such as epidemiological research methods, biostatistics, and health outcomes assessment will enhance my ability to design, analyze, and interpret health data.
Skills: Develop expertise in performing statistical analyses using tools like SAS, STATA, or R to assess population health trends and the impact of interventions.
3) Data Analytics and Machine Learning:
Knowledge: Learn advanced data analytics methods, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, which are increasingly used in public health for predictive modeling and decision-making.
Skills: Familiarize myself with tools like Python or R for implementing machine learning models and applying them to clinical research and public health data.
4) Data Privacy and Ethics:
Legal Frameworks: Strengthening knowledge of data privacy regulations and ethical principles in health data management to ensure compliance and protect patient confidentiality.
5) Data Visualization and Communication:
Knowledge: Enhance my skills in translating complex data into actionable insights for stakeholders.
Skills: Master tools such as Looker Studio, Tableau, or Power BI to create intuitive visualizations and reports for clinical, public health, and policy decision-making.
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