844: Data Modernization Citizens Can Use, Indoor Air Quality

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, February 14, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

WESLEY KORTUEM: 

So, we took that opportunity to build out this data portal concept beyond just the environmental and public health, but for all of the ADHS public health data.

JOHNSON: 

Post-COVID, with more funds for data modernization, Wesley Kortuem and his team at the Arizona Department of Health Services developed a comprehensive Public Health Data Portal.

KORTUEM: 

These sections consist of reports and catalogs, data explorers, dashboards, maps, in an all-encompassing category of public health data assets, where you can essentially put a keyword in and you can search for any data asset we have.

JOHNSON: 

Kortuem says powerful, accessible data can benefit entire communities.

KORTUEM: 

Our hope is that by providing many high quality data resources in an easy to use portal, we can increase the knowledge of our citizens so they can make more informed decisions for themselves and their families.

JOHNSON: 

Phase one of the data portal has been successful, and in phase two, Kortuem says the public will be able to do even more with it.

KORTUEM: 

They'll be able to create maps, graphs, tables, and charts that can be used to analyze and they can even download the data and bring it into their own programs to use it there.

JOHNSON: 

You can interact with Arizona's Public Health Data Portal today. Use the link in the show notes to learn more.

The latest Health Policy Update from ASTHO's Abe Kulungara takes a look at the state of indoor air quality.

ABRAHAM KULUNGARA: 

And it's mainly to talk about how indoor air is regulated at the federal level, how it's done at the state level, and also for the readers to understand that at this moment, it is a patchwork of regulations, and that because there is no official federal guidance, that the states are working on their own and coming up with innovative approaches.

JOHNSON: 

Kulungara says various states are taking action.

KULUNGARA: 

Massachusetts, for example, they included language from the Model Clean Indoor Air Quality Act, and they looked at enacting legislation which prohibits smoking in indoor public spaces. They looked at specific local challenges around mold, radon, volatile organic compounds.

JOHNSON: 

And many states are focused on youth.

KULUNGARA: 

Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, they're looking at standards for public schools and either establishing them or amending existing indoor air quality standards for schools.

JOHNSON: 

The Health Policy Update is out now. You can read it using the link in the show notes.

Also today, learn more about the "career honeycomb." O'Keyla Cooper explains.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

A new ASTHO blog article highlights the staffing challenges public health agencies face, including burnout and high turnover. It explores strategies to strengthen the workforce, from timely hiring and fair workload policies to innovative career frameworks such as the "career honeycomb," developed by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Read the full article by clicking the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Finally, this morning, if you're attending HIMSS25 Global Health Conference and Exhibition, make sure to check out the second annual Public Health Data Modernization Preconference Forum that's taking place on March 3. The forum will be hosted by ASTHO and others. It's all about public health data modernization efforts.

That'll do it for today. We're off on Monday for the holiday weekend, but we'll be back bright and early on Tuesday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.