Investigating Informatics Activity, Control, and Training Needs in Large, Medium, and Small Health Departments.
BACKGROUND
A recent National Association of City & County Health Officials survey shed light on informatics workforce development needs. Local health departments (LHDs) of various jurisdictional sizes and control over informatics may differ on training needs and activity. Understanding the precise nature of this variation will allow stakeholders to appropriately develop workforce development tools to advance the field.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the informatics training needs for LHDs of different jurisdictional sizes.


METHODS
Survey responses were analyzed by comparing training needs and LHD population size.


RESULTS
Larger health departments consistently reported having greater informatics-related capacity and informatics-related training needs. Quantitative data analysis was identified as a primary need for large LHDs. In addition, LHDs that report higher control of informatics/information technology were able to engage in more informatics activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Smaller LHDs need additional resources to improve informatics-related capacity and engagement with the field.
City of Houston Health Department, Houston, Texas.
Eric
E
Bakota
Ryan
R
Arnold
Biru
B
Yang
Yearb Med Inform. 2015 Aug 13;10 (1):199-206
26293869
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2001 Nov-Dec;8(6):535-45
11687561
Public Health Rep. 2016 Mar-Apr;131(2):272-82
26957662
NCHS Data Brief. 2014 Jan;(143):1-8
24439138
Fed Regist. 2010 Jul 28;75(144):44589-654
20677416
Health Serv Res. 2009 Dec;44(6):2148-66
19656226
Am J Public Health. 2013 Sep;103(9):1560-7
23865646
MMWR Suppl. 2012 Jul 27;61(3):20-4
22832993
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2012 Nov-Dec;19(6):931-8
22683918
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2015 Sep-Oct;21(5):516-8
26214538
Popul Health Manag. 2015 Jun;18(3):209-16
25608033
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2015 Nov-Dec;21 Suppl 6:S130-40
26422483
Annu Rev Public Health. 2015 Mar 18;36:345-59
25581157