Public Health 101 Series

Introduction to Public 

Health Informatics

Instructor name

Title

Organization

Note: This slide set is in the public domain and may be customized as needed by the 

user for informational or educational purposes. Permission from the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention is not required, but citation of the source is 

appreciated.
Course Topics

Introduction to Public 

Health Informatics

2 

1. A Public Health Approach

2. Public Health Informatics Definition, Components,

and Functions 

3. Creating a Public Health Information System

4. At the Intersection of the Informatician, the Public 

Health Official, and the Information Technologist 
Learning Objectives

After this course, you will be able to

• explain the importance of informatics to the public

health mission 

• describe the role of the informatician in public

health practice 

• differentiate between public health informatics

and information technology 

3 
Topic 1

A Public Health Approach

4 
A Public Health Approach

Surveillance Risk Factor 

Identification

Intervention

Evaluation Implementation

5 
Public Health Core Sciences

6 
Public Health Informatics Definition, 

Components, and Functions

Topic 2

7 
8 

The Public Health Mission

CDC provides crucial scientific 

information that protects our 

nation against dangerous and 

costly health threats
Public Health Informatics — Defined

Public health informatics is the 

systematic application of 

information, computer science, 

and technology to public health 

practice, research, and learning

Yasnoff WA, O’Carroll PW, Koo D, Linkins RW, Kilbourne EM. Public health informatics: improving and transforming public 

health in the information age. J Public Health Manag Pract 2000;6:67–75.

Riegelman R, ed. Public health 101: healthy people—healthy populations. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2010: 40. 9 
10

Building Your Dream Home

Electrician

Framer

Brick Layer

Plumber 

Painter
Building Your Public Health 

Information System

Programmer

Database 

Administrator

Web 

Designer

Security 

Specialist

Network Administrator 11
12

Knowledge Check

A tuberculosis outbreak has occurred in 10 states across 

the country. To increase knowledge of the health threat, 

CDC uses computer science, technology, and applied 

information methods that will inform the nation’s 

population about important _________________.

A. research

B. health information

C. security measures
Knowledge Check

Informatics uses public health knowledge to

13

A. broaden the public health knowledge base

through learning 

B. improve population health in daily practice

C. further knowledge in public health research

D. all of the above
14

Creating a Public Health

Information System

Topic 3
15

The Informatician

Envisions 

innovative

scenarios

Understands ideas

Understands 

capabilities, 

opportunities, and 

limitations

Security Data Standards Policy
16

Creating a Public Health Information System

Creating a Public Health Information System Public health

official Informatician

Information 

technology 

professional

Step 1 — Vision and System Planning

Envision solutions, opportunities, and application of 

information technology in public health

Step 2 — Health Data Standards and Integration

Define and design health data standards and 

transformation (e.g., HL7, ICD, SNOMED) and health domain 

integration (e.g., ELR, EHR, CMS, HIE, surveillance, 

demographics, social media)

Design and implement databases, tables, columns, data 

formats, and keys for linking tables and data to support 

defined health data standards and integration

Step 3 — Data Privacy and Security

Define and implement health data privacy and HIPAA 

regulations

Implement and enforce data, systems, and communication 

security

Step 4 — Systems Design and Implementation

Define and design methods for public health functions, data 

elements, data flow, case definitions, and message 

mapping

Implement information technology for defined functions, 

data elements, data flow, and case definitions

Step 5 — Visualization, Analysis, and Reporting of Health 

Data

Broad knowledge of public health practice, proficiency in 

information technology, and capacity for innovation

Expertise in health data standards, database design, and 

data linking and integration across health systems

Expertise in relational/SQL 

databases and unstructured 

data design and management

Knowledge of health data privacy

Understanding information technology 

security functions

Expertise in health systems 

and data interoperability

Expertise in managing information 

technology systems development

Expertise in public health practice, 

business intelligence, decision 

making, and use of analytic software

CMS = Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; EHR = electronic health record; ELR = electronic laboratory record; HIE = health 

information exchange; HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; HL7 = Health Level 7; ICD = International Classification of 

Diseases; SNOMED = Systematized Nomenclature of Human Medicine; SQL = structured query language.
17

Step 1 — Vision and System Planning

Hardware

Software

Communication 

Technology
18

Step 2 — Health Data Standards 

and Integration

Health data standards and 

integration are required when 

defining the data.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meaningful use—introduction. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and 

Human Services, CDC; 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/ehrmeaningfuluse/introduction.html.
19

Step 3 — Data Privacy and Security

Data privacy and security must 

be identified, prescribed, and 

implemented throughout the 

data lifecycle.
20

Step 4 — Systems Design 

and Implementation

• Define or design methods for 

public health functions, data 

elements, data flow, case 

definitions, and message 

mapping

• Implement information 

technology for defined public 

health functions, data 

elements, data flow, case 

definition, and similar needs
21

Step 5 — Visualization, Analysis,

and Reporting of Health Data

Visualization and implementation 

of the required analysis, reporting, 

and meaningful use of the data 

collected and managed by the 

system.
22

Informatics in Action — CDC’s FluView

A clear-cut way to share 

national influenza data was 

needed by

• the public health community,

• clinicians,

• scientists, and

• the general public 
Informatics in Action — FluView

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). FluView. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, 

 CDC; 2013. http://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/main.html. 23
Knowledge Check

24

On the basis of what you have learned about creating a 

public health information system, which of the following 

does an informatician consider first when identifying 

technologies to use for sharing national malaria data?

A. Health data standards and integration

B. Vision and systems planning

C. System design and implementation
Knowledge Check

Informatics is used to create a program such as CDC’s 

FluView. Which of the following three disciplines must work 

together to visually represent the data in an effective 

method?

25

A. Computer science, epidemiology, and 

public health

B. Technology, computer science, and 

applied information methods 

C. Technology, surveillance systems, and

epidemiology
Topic 4

26

At the Intersection 

of the Informatician, 

the Public Health Official, 

and the Information Technologist
27

Common Knowledge and Skills

Creating a Public Health Information System Public health

official Informatician

Information 

technology 

professional

Step 1 — Vision and System Planning

Envision solutions, opportunities, and application of 

information technology in public health

Step 2 — Health Data Standards and Integration

Define and design health data standards and 

transformation (e.g., HL7, ICD, SNOMED) and health domain 

integration (e.g., ELR, EHR, CMS, HIE, surveillance, 

demographics, social media)

Design and implement databases, tables, columns, data 

formats, and keys for linking tables and data to support 

defined health data standards and integration

Step 3 — Data Privacy and Security

Define and implement health data privacy and HIPAA 

regulations

Implement and enforce data, systems, and communication 

security

Step 4 — Systems Design and Implementation

Define and design methods for public health functions, data 

elements, data flow, case definitions, and message 

mapping

Implement information technology for defined functions, 

data elements, data flow, and case definitions

Step 5 — Visualization, Analysis, and Reporting of Health 

Data

Broad knowledge of public health practice, proficiency in 

information technology, and capacity for innovation

Expertise in health data standards, database design, and 

data linking and integration across health systems

Expertise in relational/SQL 

databases and unstructured 

data design and management

Knowledge of health data privacy

Understanding information technology 

security functions

Expertise in health systems 

and data interoperability

Expertise in managing information 

technology systems development

Expertise in public health practice, 

business intelligence, decision making, 

and use of analytic software

CMS = Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; EHR = electronic health record; ELR = electronic laboratory record; HIE = health 

information exchange; HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; HL7 = Health Level 7; ICD = International Classification of 

Diseases; SNOMED = Systematized Nomenclature of Human Medicine; SQL = structured query language.
28

Step 4 — Creating a Public Health 

Information System

Creating a Public Health Information System Public health

official Informatician

Information 

technology 

professional

Step 4 — Systems Design and Implementation

Define and design methods for public health 

functions, data elements, data flow, case 

definition, and message mapping

Implement information technology for 

defined public health functions, data 

elements, data flow, and case definition

Expertise in health systems 

and data interoperability

Expertise in managing information 

technology systems development
29

Combined Disciplines — The Informatician

and the Information Technologist
The Role of the Informatician

in Public Health

• Plans, designs, and defines functional 

requirements for public health 

information systems 

• Evaluates the application and impact of 

information systems in support of health 

goals

• Serves as a liaison between 

multidisciplinary teams

• Uses data standards to support 

interoperability of data between systems

• Ensures confidentiality, security, and 

integrity standards

• Is knowledgeable about health data 

standards, sources, and meaningful use 

of health data

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public health informatics competencies. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and 

Human Services, CDC; 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/informaticscompetencies/. 30
The Role of the Information Technologist 

in Public Health

• Plans technology projects and 

milestones, develops software, and 

maintains and operates systems

• Evaluates the performance and 

availability of information systems

• Designs, implements, and 

administers database architecture,

privacy, security, and backup 

procedures 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public health informatics competencies. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and 

Human Services, CDC; 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/informaticscompetencies/. 31
Knowledge Check

One of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals 

is to substantially reduce infant mortality worldwide. A 

system has been developed that will display the data and 

track the progress of attaining this goal.

Which of the following professionals works with health data 

standards and sources and ensures the integrity and 

security of the standards?

A. The information technologist

B. The informatician

32
Knowledge Check

33

Which of the following is NOT a function of a public health 

informatician?

A. Uses data standards to support interoperability of 

data between systems

B. Ensures confidentiality, security, and integrity

standards

C. Designs, implements, and administers database 

architecture, privacy, security, and backup 

procedures

D. Is knowledgeable about health data standards, 

sources, and meaningful use of health data
Learning Objectives

During this course, you learned to

• explain the importance of informatics to the public 

health mission 

• describe the role of the Informatician in public 

health practice

• differentiate between public health informatics 

and information technology

34
QUESTIONS?

35
Resources and Additional Reading

• Yasnoff WA, O’Carroll PW, Koo D, Linkins RW, Kilbourne EM. Public health informatics: improving 

and transforming public health in the information age. J Public Health Manag Pract 2000;6:67–75.

• Riegelman R, ed. Public health 101: healthy people—healthy populations. Sudbury, MA: Jones & 

Bartlett Learning; 2010: 40.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public health approach. Atlanta, GA: US 

Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/ 

ViolencePrevention/overview/publichealthapproach.html.

• Taylor RS. Value-added processes in the information life cycle. J Am Soc Inf Sci 1982:33:341–6. 

http://asis.org/Publications/JASIS/Best_Jasist/1982Taylor.pdf.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public health informatics competencies. 

Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2009. 

http://www.cdc.gov/informaticscompetencies/.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). FluView. Atlanta, GA: US Department of 

Health and Human Services, CDC; 2013. http://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/main.html.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Data standards. Washington, DC: EPA; 2013. 

https://iaspub.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/datastds/home/whatisadatastandard/.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth violence: state statistics; Texas. Atlanta,

GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2011. 

http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/youthviolence/stats_at-a_glance/TX.html.

36
Disclaimers

Links provided in this course to nonfederal organizations are provided solely as a 

service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these 

organizations nor their programs by the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC) or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC 

is not responsible for the content contained at these sites.

Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does 

not imply endorsement by the Division of Scientific Education and Professional 

Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Service, or the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services.

The findings and conclusions in this course are those of the authors and do not 

necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention.

37
For more information, please contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)/TTY: 1-888-232-6348

Visit: http://www.cdc.gov | Contact CDC at: 1-800-CDC-INFO or http://www.cdc.gov/info

The findings and conclusions in this course are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services 

Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development