Learn about the team at the center of data modernization for DOH
The COVID-19 response focused a white-hot spotlight on numerous issues that have plagued (excuse the pun!) public health professionals for a long time. One of those challenges is how the state manages its data processes.
Whether it is the cumbersome process for submitting data to the state, coordinating data across multiple systems that don’t speak to each other, or simply providing timely data requests, our clunky data surveillance systems clearly need updating. That is why, in July 2022, DOH created the Center for Data Systems Modernization under the Office of Innovation and Technology.
The Center is charged with moving away from our current fragile, siloed data surveillance system to one that meets the modern needs of public health. The Center has been tasked with setting standards and creating processes that reach across the agency and the state. It will oversee agency initiatives for data and systems modernization, data governance, and enterprise analytics. The Center will also serve as a hub and spoke model to provide technical support for analytic tools.
Leading the Center is Michelle Campbell, who comes to this role with a wealth of experience in data and systems management. She has a background in informatics and data quality that made her an invaluable member of the DOH Division of Disease Control and Health Statistics and the Immunization Office, prior to starting this position in June.
How we got here
The federal funding for public health created a piecemeal approach to data surveillance. Today, DOH has more than 50 separate data surveillance systems. Each system was developed independently, leading to duplicative data structures, and separate formats, standards, and protocols.
Through the Data Modernization Initiative, DOH has begun working towards a resilient, adaptable, and sustainable 'response-ready' data surveillance system for Washington state. To best meet the needs of our communities, the Center will help DOH be strategic about investments and working with internal and external partners. “By engaging with our partners and programs, we can advocate for their needs and effectively communicate with leadership,” said Campbell.
Data modernization is a collective effort
The Center hopes to provide an umbrella for collaboration with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, and a start for building a better, more modern data system. “Our shared commitment to health and well-being is the foundation for collaboration,” Campbell says.
To start, the Center is creating a steering committee to help guide the data modernization process. The team is also aligning its work with DOH’s Foundational Public Health Services, and will set up other feedback opportunities for partners and provide updates as measures are implemented.
For an overview of DOH’s data modernization plan visit Data Modernization Initiative Project Planning on the DOH website. Have questions? Contact us at DataModFeedback@doh.wa.gov.