CEHTP Newsletter - Issue 13

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California Tracking	No. 12 - winter - 2005
The Newsletter of the California Environmental Health Tracking Program
*In This Issue* One of the goals of environmental health tracking is to disseminate relevant and useful environmental health information that can guide public health policy, practice, and actions. There are many steps involved in achieving this goal. The first step is gaining access to and integrating data from existing environmental and health data systems. In order to facilitate that first step, CEHTP has initiated activities to discover and describe data systems' capacities and needs, as well as the quality and applicability of their data in the context of environmental health tracking. This issue summarizes findings from those activities and outlines our efforts to establish collaborative relationships with data system owners and provide assistance and support to realize mutual goals. Identifying Opportunities: Needs Assessment of Data and Data Systems Working Toward Mutual Goals: Value-Added Technologies and Services for Data Systems and CEHTP Announcements: News You Can Use Identifying Opportunities :: Needs Assessment of Data and Data Systems Although the California Environmental Health Tracking Program (CEHTP) is responsible for analyzing environmental health data and disseminating results, we rely on various environmental monitoring and health surveillance systems (systems that collect and maintain data) for access to data. In other words, the viability of environmental health tracking in California depends on the availability of quality data from various data systems. Because CEHTP does not collect any data, our ability to achieve program goals depend on the interoperability (the ability to exchange and integrate data) of data systems and the quality and applicability of data for environmental health tracking. One of CEHTP's primary objectives is to collaborate with data system owners to build an infrastructure that would enhance data systems' interoperability and data quality. This infrastructure would enable data system owners to exchange data in an automated and secure manner while maintaining maximum control of their data resources. To that end, we set out to answer the following questions: What are the existing data systems and what data do they have? What is the quality of data and the applicability for environmental health tracking? What are the data systems' capacities, challenges, and needs for system interoperability and data enhancement? What are the technological, institutional, and policy factors that affect infrastructures and processes for system interoperability and data enhancement? What are the mutual needs and how can data systems and CEHTP collaborate to meet them? A Broad Sweep Sets a Foundation for Targeted Assessments: We discovered early on that there is a wealth of existing environmental and health data. In 2003, as part of our work to support the SB 702 Expert Working Group, we examined 48 existing environmental and health data systems. The findings, which include brief descriptions of each database and its applicability to environmental health tracking, have been posted to http://www.catracking.com/sub/sb702.htm (see supporting documents). Building on those findings, we initiated a Data Assessment that was divided into two phases. The first phase examined general elements of a wide selection of environmental and health data systems. The second phase examined detailed elements of select data systems and included face-to-face meetings between data system owners and CEHTP. Phase One of the Data Assessment Reveals Tremendous Potential: The first phase of the assessment examined various characteristics of 20 environmental and health surveillance systems with data for California. These characteristics included: data elements, data system purpose/mission, reporting frequency, confidentiality, geographic coverage and specificity, data collection process, quality assurance and control, data transfer capability, IT protocols, and planned enhancements. Important discoveries and themes from the first phase include: Data system owners acknowledged the need for and benefits of automated, standards-based data exchange, and indicated willingness to work toward system interoperability. Many health surveillance systems indicated that exchange of confidential data would require authorization from Human Subjects Committees. Environmental monitoring systems noted opportunities to share more timely and less aggregated unofficial data before they are prepared for official release. Overall, we discovered that the data systems and their data have tremendous potential. Each data system had its own strengths relative to environmental health tracking needs. In order to fully explore the potential for environmental health tracking, we used a criteria-based ranking that helped to narrow the list of data systems for follow-up and in-depth discussions. Based on the criteria, the following data systems were selected for further, in-depth assessment in phase two. Health Systems: Automated Vital Statistics System (CDHS) California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Registry (CDHS) California Cancer Registry (CDHS) California Health Interview Survey (UCLA, PHI, CDHS) Medical Care Statistics Section Database (CDHS) Patient Discharge Database (OSHPD) Environmental Systems: Aerometric Data Analysis and Management System (Cal/EPA, CARB) California Emissions Inventory Development and Reporting System (Cal/EPA, CARB) Highway Performance Monitoring System (Caltrans) Pesticide Use Report Database (Cal/EPA, DPR) Toxics Release Inventory (US EPA) Water Quality Monitoring Database (CDHS) Phase Two of the Data Assessment Identifies Mutual Needs and Collaborative Opportunities: The second phase focused on collecting more detailed information on 12 data systems (listed above) through discussions with system owners and reviews of systems documentation. Phase two objectives included: Collecting information related to data and IT governance protocols and procedures. Evaluating system strengths and limitations (relative to environmental health tracking needs). Identifying technological, institutional, and policy factors that affect data enhancement and exchange infrastructures and processes. Identifying mutually beneficial data sharing opportunities and establishing processes for ongoing communication. Because secure data transaction and integration of environmental and health data often hinge on geographic interoperability, phase two discussions often centered on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capacity and resources. We were able to identify areas for collaboration that would result in establishment or enhancement of GIS functionality within the data systems. Overall, findings indicate that data systems owners are supportive of environmental health tracking and CEHTP. They also cited the need and willingness to collaboratively enhance data collection, visualization, dissemination, and exchange processes. However, we also discovered significant challenges for data system owners: Lack of formal mandates to support data sharing and exchange. Limited resources (human, financial, technological) for developing, maintaining, and enhancing information systems and infrastructure. Concerns and requirements related to data confidentiality, privacy, and security. Informed by the assessment results, CEHTP has begun addressing key challenges and is continuing to develop approaches and resources that can help to meet mutual needs and requirements of data systems and environmental health tracking. For a complete description of the Data Assessment activities and to download the complete phase 1 & 2 reports, please visit: www.catracking.com/sub/ta.htm. Working Toward Mutual Goals :: Value-Added Technologies and Services for Data Systems and CEHTP Upon identifying opportunities and challenges related to data systems, CEHTP set out to provide technical assistance to data system owners and develop technologies and related services that could facilitate mutual goals. For example, we are working with data system owners to increase capacity to implement methods and standards for national data exchange and interoperability initiatives such as the Public Health Information Network and the National Environmental Information Exchange Network. CEHTP is also developing technologies that will address the following shared needs of data systems and environmental health tracking: Enhancing data system interoperability (efficient, automated, and secure data exchange) and content (data quality, completeness, and timeliness). Establishing or enhancing GIS functionality. Streamlining data collection and dissemination processes. Some of the technologies that we have developed and are piloting with data systems and other stakeholders include: Spatial and temporal data integration/linkage services. Address validation, standardization, and geocoding services. (See screenshot below) Learn more about these services at www.catracking.com/resources/nl/fall2005.htm#2 or explore working demonstrations at www.ehib.org/cma/toollist.jsp. The technologies behind these services also address some of the major challenges and concerns expressed by data system owners. For example, spatial integration/linkage methods enable automated and efficient exchange of environmental health data that is stripped of confidential identifiers such as patient names, addresses, etc. The methods also enable data system owners to maintain maximum control of what and how data are exchanged. CEHTP has successfully piloted geocoding and spatial integration/linkage technologies with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch of the California Department of Health Services, the Air Resources Board and Department of Pesticide Regulation of the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Transportation. The lessons learned from these efforts have informed not only the technologies but also our approaches to collaborating with data system owners. We are continuing to work with data system owners to identify technologies and develop services that can enhance system functionality and content. Examples of other value-added services that are in development include: map publishing services (Web Map Services) and record matching services. For more information about the technologies and services noted in this article, or to be notified when these services become available, please contact CEHTP's IT/GIS manager: Craig Wolff, MS.Eng. 916-265-0176 or cwolff@dhs.ca.gov Announcements :: News You Can Use Conferences: California Public Health Association - North 2006 Annual Meeting: "Rebuilding California - Designs for Healthy Living from City to Farm", March 29-30 in Oakland, California. www.cphan.org/annual.html UC Berkeley Center for Health Research Conferences: "Poverty, Race, Place: Research and Community-Based Interventions To Reduce Health Disparities", April 19; and ""Privilege, Bias and Oppression: Addressing Barriers to Eliminating Health Disparities Within Health Organizations", April 20 in Berkeley, California. http://healthresearch.berkeley.edu/disparities Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist (CSTE) 2006 Annual Conference: "Translating Data into Knowledge to Meet New Challenges", June 4-8 in Anaheim, California. Early bird registration deadline: March 31. www.cste.org/annualconference/index.asp Publications: US EPA Draft Strategic Architecture for the 2006-2011 Strategic Plan is available for review. This draft architecture consists of EPA's draft mission statement, five goals, and their associated objectives and sub-objectives. www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm. EPA is accepting comments on the draft through March 31. National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO): "Operational Definition of Local Health Departments". The overarching goal of this project is to develop a shared understanding of what people in any community, regardless of size, can expect from their Local Health Department. www.naccho.org/topics/infrastructure/operationaldefinition.cfm Presentation/Webcast: 8th Annual William T. Small Keynote Lecture: "Collaborative Research with Communities: Value Added and Challenges Faced" by Meredith Minkler, Dr.P.H. Archived webcast from the 27th Annual Minority Health Conference, February 24, 2006. www.sph.unc.edu/about/webcasts/2006-02-24_mhc Funding Opportunities: Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, Environment and Health Grant Program: this program aims to prevent serious risk to human health from toxic substances and other environmental hazards by supporting programs in research, education and policy development. http://cehcf.org/env_health.html. Rolling application (and letter of intent) cycles. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program: a community based, community driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxics and environmental pollutants from all sources. The CARE program aims to help communities form collaborative partnerships, develop a comprehensive understanding of the many sources of risk from toxics and environmental pollutants, set priorities, and identify and carry out projects to reduce risks through collaborative action at the local level. www.epa.gov/care. Deadline: 10 April 2006. US EPA, Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability: this program aims to bring together diverse partners to explore and learn about new approaches for environmental protection that are systems-oriented, forward-looking, and preventive and also link to economic and social dimensions. http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2006/2006_star_cns.html. Deadline: 17 May 2006.
Disclaimer: Links to non-CEHTP resources are provided solely as a service. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these resources and none should be inferred. CEHTP is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages or documents found at these links.