Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When I select a specific project from the list on the Resources page, it tells me there are no resources available for that project.
In some cases, this is because the work of an active project has not yet progressed to the point where its work products have been finalized for publication. In other cases, it is because a particular project did not produce a publicly available work product (for example, in the case of a project where the Institute's role was to convene and facilitate a meeting which did not result in the production of any type of publication).
If you are looking for a specific publication and you believe you have received this message in error, please contact us, and we will try to help you locate the resource you are looking for.
Q: How do I find and download Institute publications and work products?
All Institute work products are available for download on our RESOURCES page. There, you can browse available resources by:
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TOPIC of publication
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PROJECT that produced publication
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FUNDER that supported the work
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DATE published (by year)
...or use the keyword search feature on the Resources page.
Q: What is public health informatics?
Public Health Informatics has been defined as “the systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning.”1 At the Institute, we think of it as the tools and practices that enable public health practitioners to apply information effectively to improve health outcomes.
Q: I would like to get a certificate in Public Health Informatics. How do I enroll in the Informatics Academy?
The Informatics Academy will build, over time, a portfolio of professional education and training courses aimed at the needs of the public health practitioner. “Informatics for Public Health Program Managers” will be offered broadly in the fall of 2012.
At present, we are refining the “Informatics for Public Health Program Managers” offering. The curriculum and content of this course has been tested and evaluated rigorously in cooperation with over 30 public health practitioners. The course will be a distance-based format, mixed with some in-person instruction.
Q: Is the Institute a government agency, or a part of the CDC?
No, the Institute is a program of The Task Force for Global Health, a private 501(C)3 non-profit organization affiliated with Emory University. Our projects are funded by a variety of government agencies and private foundations. We are a mission-driven organization, only engaging in those activities that advance our mission: To improve health outcomes worldwide by transforming health practitioners’ ability to apply information effectively.
Q: How do I engage the Institute to consult on my project?
Generally, the Institute does not provide individual consulting services. We work with specific public health departments, associations and practitioners only under the structure of a given Institute project, where they may be grantees of the funder, recruited workgroup members or subject matter experts, or other partners involved in the execution of the project, on behalf of the funder.
Q: Does the Institute develop software applications, or make software recommendations?
We do not develop software, nor do we get directly involved with software recommendation or selection. However, our approach and our work help public health agencies and associations identify and articulate their requirements for specific information system solutions to effectively support their work. This work results in functional requirements that can then be used to inform the software evaluation and selection process, ensuring that the solution fits the needs, and improving user acceptance of the information system. For select requirements projects, we have assessed vendors as compared to the collaboratively developed requirements. We have provided this assessment as a tool for individual public health agencies to use in evaluating the best vendor to meet their specific needs.
Q: If I am interested in having the Institute lead a requirements project for my organization, whom should I contact?
Usually, the Institute works with its funders and public health partners on projects to collaboratively develop information system requirements that address and advance the public health enterprise as a whole. Some examples of these projects may be found under the Requirements Lab line-of-business page. The work products of these projects, in the form of documented work processes and functional requirements for information systems to support the work, are freely available for download and use by public health agencies at all levels. These can be found on the Resources page, under the Business Process Analysis/Redesign and Requirements Development topics. You may submit an inquiry about a Requirements Lab project from our Get in Touch page.
Q: How can I become involved with JPHIT?
You should contact the JPHIT public health association member with which you are most closely aligned to see if that association can get you involved. A list of member associations can be found on the JPHIT project page, under our Practice Support line of business. More information about JPHIT is also available on the JPHIT website, www.jphit.org.
