694: New Data Sources Inform Tobacco Prevention Work, Caring for PH Workers During Disasters

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, June 27, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

ELI KERN: 

These data systems weren't designed for public health, surveillance or practice, but they represent a wealth of information if put in front of decision makers as information.

JOHNSON: 

Public health officials in Washington state are finding new ways to use administrative data to identify tobacco prevention challenges and opportunities. Eli Kern is a senior epidemiologist for public health Seattle and King County, Washington.

KERN: 

And what we did here is we linked Medicaid claims data to additional information about tobacco use collected through enrollment to explore the potential for using the linked data to identify and measure tobacco use and tobacco cessation.

JOHNSON: 

Kern says the project demonstrates the opportunity to include non-traditional data sources in public health work.

KERN: 

This project offers further support for the value of using integrated data for routine public health practice, which in turn helps us as a public health department continue to build and strengthen data sharing partnerships across our county and state.

JOHNSON: 

You can learn more about the project during and ASTHO webinar on Wednesday, July 17. Sign up for the discussion and download the full report using the links in the show notes.

Natural disasters challenge public health organizations across the states and territories. Preparation is key to a successful response. Tiffany Meche with the Louisiana Department of Health says her agency begins the years hurricane prep with an update of the employee database.

TIFFANY MECHE: 

They're going to get automatic text messages and emails sent out directly from this database to alert them to where they need to report. And it also gives them the information they need for the human resources forms that are completed for disaster work.

JOHNSON: 

Staff members like others in an impacted community also can suffer from hurricanes and other disasters. Louisiana accounts for the possibility that some workers may be dealing with their own crisis.

MECHE: 

We try to make sure we have a volunteer list statewide to support each other through these natural disasters no matter where they're located.

JOHNSON: 

During heat emergencies, Meche, tells us that supervisors check in with employees who are working outside.

MECHE: 

We do sewer inspections, we collect water samples, we're doing premise inspections, restaurant inspections, grocery store, which and you know, that entails a lot of outside work. So, we make sure that in house our staff is being checked off from their supervisors and that we provide what they need to stay hydrated.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO surveys agencies for information about their hurricane response planning in a blog article now online, you can read it by clicking the link in the show notes.

A new warning from the CDC today about an increased risk of dengue virus infections in the US and official health advisories as countries in the Americas have reported a record breaking number of cases this year. Dengue virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Read the advisory using the link in the show notes.

On the calendar today, innovation in public health systems will be discussed during an ASTHO webinar on Thursday, July 11. If you're looking for ways to take your agency to the next level, then sign up to attend using the link in the show notes.

Finally this morning, science can help improve health equity. O'Keyla Cooper has that story.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

And ASTHO brief on public health frameworks to advance healthy aging, explains healthy aging as keeping older adults in the best physical, mental, spiritual, and social health. By 2060, the number of Americans over 65 is expected to double making up 25% of the population. addressing social determinants of health early in life can reduce disparities and enhance the quality of life for older adults. For more details, download the full brief using the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We are on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day