New center modernizes how DOH turns data into information

Due to a lack of resources, we often ask DOH epidemiologists—who are charged with collecting, analyzing, and sharing essential health data—to spend much of their valuable time cleaning and preparing data before they can do their actual work. While they have capably managed this process, it’s not the most effective use of their time.

To help streamline this essential work, the DOH Data Task Force reviewed the roles and responsibilities of our current information systems crucial to public health surveillance. They made several recommendations to better align our informatics work.

Public health informatics is critical to effective monitoring and surveillance. Informatics makes the collection, packaging, and flow of massive amounts of data and information more reliable, efficient, and timely.

We are very excited to begin providing key informatic services at the agency-level for important areas such as clinical data exchange, interoperability, data governance, data visualization, and data processing and management.

Here’s how it will work:

  • Key staff will join DOH’s Office of Innovation and Technology’s Center for Technical Operations to strengthen the development and use of the cloud analytic environment.
  • Key staff will move to the new Center for Data Modernization and Informatics at DOH to support essential innovative solutions like WA Notify, WA Verify, and Electronic Health Records as a service.
  • Michelle Campbell, Director of the new combined Center for Data Modernization and Informatics, will recruit a Deputy Director to lead the informatic operations for data exchange, business intelligence analytics, and geospatial analysis.
  • Chief Medical Informatics Officer Dr. Bryant T. Karras will lead strategic informatics work for innovative solutions, support federal and national partnerships, and encourage innovative informatics initiatives. Dr. Karras’s group will help align federal and national initiatives across the Office of Innovation and Technology.

As staff settle into new teams and positions are filled to support this work, we will share details about roles, processes, and services available to agency programs.

For more information, email Director for the Center for Data Modernization and Informatics Michelle Campbell or DataModFeedback@doh.wa.gov.

For an overview of DOH’s data modernization plan, visit Data Modernization Initiative Project Planning  | Washington State Department of Health.