Surveillance of public data
The purpose of this exercise is to help you develop and execute an evaluation plan involving data extraction from practice information systems and databases. You may work in small groups (2-3 students) and should submit
1. Select a problem of interest to you and explore the Illinois department of public health (http://www.dph.illinois.gov/data-statistics), Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) database (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wish/index.htm) and/or the CDC Data and Statistics Resources (http://www.cdc.gov/datastatistics/) to determine whether adequate data exists to appraise the incidence, prevalence, variability over time for that problem in two populations (e.g., two counties or two U.S. states or regions). (Note: you may need to iterate several to find a problem for which there is data in these databases that fits with your interest.)
Briefly summarize your findings.
Report the Incidence, Prevalence and Variability over time
Evaluate whether the pattern of that health problem is consistent or different in the two populations
Advocate whether this problem should garner health resources
Reflect on the process of using the databases. What was challenging? Surprising?
How do informatics topics and concepts weve covered so far relate to or support this type of tool and surveillance process?
How might you use this type of surveillance process/tool/resource in practice or future work?
What are other large databases or surveillance tools you might utilize for your focus area or future areas of practice/work (i.e., besides EHRs where else can you gain access to data you might need or use)? (you may to do a little google searching one place to start might be: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/index.html).
