Logical design refines requirements
for public health laboratory information management systems  
A logical design for public health laboratory information management systems (LIMS) is now available from the Association for Public Health Laboratories (APHL). The logical design is the next step in a series of collaborations among public health laboratories, APHL and its Informatics Committee, and the Public Health Informatics Institute, to ensure that PHLs have efficient LIMS. In 2002-2003, the collaboration produced a requirements document articulating the work performed in a PHL, stated as 16 business processes and 500 LIMS requirements. The logical design, developed in 2003-2005, is a refinement of the requirements that will enable PHLs to further focus vendors' LIMS products or better develop their own LIMS.
Download the requirements document and logical design from APHL at:
www.aphl.org/programs/informatics
Read the Institute case study describing this project.

New product to tackle
match/merge dilemmas
The problem of uniquely identifying individuals and creating duplicate records within a database has plagued program managers since the beginning of electronic data entry. When public health agencies merge information from disparate program databases, duplication poses an even greater challenge. But help is on the way.

Connections is an Institute program supported by the Genetic Services Branch of the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA/MCHB).
For more information on Connections, contact Lorrie Alvin at lalvin@phii.org. 
Read the first Connections newsletter.

Framework for evaluating public health information systems
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and partners have developed an evaluation framework for assessing the value of a public health information system. The nine-dimension framework was developed by researchers at the Public Health Informatics Institute in collaboration with APHL, its Newborn Screening and Informatics Committees, and the Rhode Island Department of Health to assess the value of integrating newborn screening laboratory information management systems with child health information systems. The results represent an important step toward developing metrics for evaluating public health information systems.
Read the research brief describing the evaluation framework.

Meet us at PHIN!
Public Health Informatics Institute staff will host two presentations at the Third Annual Public Health Information Network (PHIN) conference, May 10 -12 in Atlanta. The Institute's presentations and date/times are:

• May 10th at 11 AM: Principles, Core Functions, and Performance Measures for Integrated Child Health Information Systems: Collaborative Development
• May 11th at 10:30 AM: Connections Community of Practice: Collaborative Approach to Knowledge Generation and Management

Visit the Public Health Informatics Institute exhibit (booth #713) for free copies of our latest publications, to find out more about our work in information systems integration, and to chat with Institute staff. See you there!

Online registration for the PHIN conference is closed. Registration will be open on site.
For more information about the conference, visit http://www.cdc.gov/phin/.

Developing an enterprise view of public health information systems
A new publication from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) offers viewpoints from the perspectives of experts and leaders in public health, integrated justice, homeland security, environmental protection, transportation, and economic development on the challenges of effectively sharing information. Among the themes throughout Perspectives: Government Information Sharing is that technology is not the main obstacle to information sharing. The Institute contributed the article on public health informatics, Developing an Enterprise View of Public Health Information Systems. The article cites specific ways to develop the enterprise view of information that is critical to improving the health of individuals and populations.
Download Perspectives: Government Information Sharing

PHDSC to hold annual meeting, sponsor public health sessions at Connecting Communities for Better Health Learning Forum
The annual meeting of the Public Health Data Standards Consortium (PHDSC) will be held in conjunction with the second Connecting Communities for Better Health (CCBH) Learning Forum, May 25-26 in Washington, DC.

The key focus of the forum is to provide a hands-on experience and to discuss challenges that communities across the United States are facing as they contemplate Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) processes, implement HIT, and engage in health information exchange to support health care quality, safety and efficiency, and population health goals. The PHDSC is organizing this event in partnership with the eHealth Initiative and the American Health Quality Association. The PHDSC will sponsor CCBH public health/population health track sessions and participation of public health experts at the Forum.
For more information about the meeting and to register, visit the CCBH Web site at
http://www.ccbhconference.org/

APHA plenary shines light on public health informatics
Last November's meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) introduced a topic that's growing in significance for all of public health – informatics. The plenary session featured a presentation by Dave Ross, Director of the Public Health Informatics Institute.   Don't Go Away ... This Could Be Important! makes compelling arguments for how informatics helps public health do a better job.

Dr. Virginia Caine, APHA past president and public health officer, Marion County, Indiana, offers her views about what it takes to get people energized about the potential for sharing health information electronically – and how to ensure public health's place at the table.
Read the exclusive Institute interview with Dr. Caine.