784: PHIG Helps Data Modernization Initiatives, STRETCH 2.0 Lessons Learned

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, November 4, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

GAYATRI RAOL: 

My goals are, you know, first, define the department-wide DMI vision, conduct this enterprise-wide data maturity assessment, have this five-year DMI roadmap, establish data governance framework, data exchange, and interoperability, and building a workforce capacity.

SILVERS: 

Gayatri Raol is with the Illinois Department of Public Health. The department uses Public Health Infrastructure Grant funds, or PHIG, to support the state's data modernization initiatives.

RAOL: 

So, currently under PHIG funding, we have 25 plus DMI projects in progress to support the priorities that have been identified by the CDC. We are working on the projects such as modernization of clinical LIMS system, that's a laboratory information management system in modernization of iConnect, that's the lab electronic test ordering oral modernization of our immunization information system.

SILVERS: 

The work Raol is doing in Illinois is the subject of an ATHO blog written by Alicia Camuy, a summer intern with Health Career Connection, which connects young professionals with internship opportunities in the health profession. Here is Camuy.

ALICIA CAMUY: 

I got to meet with Gayatri, who is the focus point of the blog, and it was really great to learn. And she also thought that it was great because she got to list out all of like, the projects that she's working on, and really just put it as like a deliverable to show just how much goes into data modernization.

SILVERS: 

Camuy says she was interested in PHIG and data modernization because of what she saw during COVID.

CAMUY: 

Especially in the wake of COVID, we saw just how much our infrastructure really determines how public health can genuinely help and save lives. So, PHIG is really an investment for the long-term instead of the short-term, which is a very wonderful change in mindset and very unique in the funding cycle.

SILVERS: 

The full blog article is on ASTHO's website. You can read it now by using the link in the show notes.

And that is just one example of how the Public Health Infrastructure Grant is being used across the country, but there are countless others. Now, you can read about how PHIG plays a role in public health, get information on upcoming events, and maybe even find inspiration on how your team can use PHIG for your department. That's because PHIG now has a dedicated newsletter. Use the link in the show notes to sign up today.

As the Strategies to Repair Equity and Transform Community Health, or STRETCH, 2.0 collaborative comes to its midway point, ASTHO is assessing how the project is going. Here's ASTHO's Jessica Fepelstein.

JESSICA FEPELSTEIN: 

It's basically a project focused on systems change work and operationalizing health equity. We have seven state collaboratives. Each state has a community-based partner and the state health agency as a collaborative.

SILVERS: 

Fepelstein says some key takeaways from the project were simple.

FEPELSTEIN: 

And we've learned that not only hearing the community's voice, but allowing them to lead the work in-step with the agency staff is a critical piece in securing community buy-in, as well as creating a safe, collaborative space for strong relationships.

SILVERS: 

While other lessons were eye-opening.

FEPELSTEIN: 

One of the hardest lessons that we've learned from the STRETCH 2.0 initiative, so far, was that even within this shared cohort we have, a 'one size fits all' approach was not in the best interest of our participants.

SILVERS: 

ASTHO has published an entire brief on the STRETCH 2.0 project. You can read about it by clicking the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, get the latest public health news delivered directly to your inbox each and every week. ASTHO's Public Health Weekly newsletter is a great resource for every public health professional. Click the link in the show notes to sign up.

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