Priority 5: The Nebraska public health system has expanded capacity to collect, analyze and report health data.
Despite the successes and improvements that have been made in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data, many challenges still exist. In Nebraska, those challenges can be separated into four major areas: access, utilization, timely reporting and data standardization/consistency. In order to expand the capacity to collect, analyze and report health data, it is essential to address these challenges to continue to build a strong public health data infrastructure. The objectives of the SHIP Data Priority are focused on enhancing the data competencies and leadership skills of the public health workforce, increasing the timely reporting of public health data, and increasing the integration and utilization of health data by data users and researchers.
Why Is This Important?
While the existing epidemiology and data workforce in Nebraska are skilled and knowledgeable, there is a need to expand their competencies in several key areas. Although Nebraska does not currently have a formal set of epidemiology-related competencies which it strives to achieve, some competency assessment work has been completed. Furthering these efforts will support the public health workforce and ultimately the quality of public health data in Nebraska.
Story Behind the Curve
Nebraska SHIP Priority 5: The Nebraska public health system has expanded capacity to collect, analyze and report health data.
For this SHIP goal, several activities were planned for implementation:
- Review existing model competencies for epidemiology, biostatistics and data informatics to determine applicability.
- Identify workforce competency gaps and develop training programs.
- Develop recruitment and retention plans for epidemiology and data workforce.
Definition
This scorecard is created to track performance, therefore the demonstration of data (numerical and narrative) describes what we define as success. In some instances, a trend may be moving in the wrong direction, but still may be within our 'Target for Success' area. The use of Color Arrows (and sometimes also Color Bands) help to define the Target for Success and Current Progress.
Green, Black and Red color arrows are used to reflect our 'Current Progress' status.
- GREEN Arrow = We're getting better!
- BLACK Arrow = We're maintaining our position.
- RED Arrow = We're going in the wrong direction.
Green, Yellow or Red color bands are used to reflect our 'Target for Success' zones.
- GREEN Color Band = We've reached our Target for Success!
- YELLOW Color Band = We're making progress, but not quite there yet.
- RED Color Band = We're below our Target for Success.
Data is described with the Time Period, Actual Value, Target Value, Current Trend and Baseline Change %. These mean:
- Time Period - The most current time period for which the data were available.
- Actual Value - The actual level of achievement, the most current data point for the indicator; also shown in a Color Band to reflect if that value is or is not within our Target for Success zone.
- Target Value - The desired level of achievement for the data indicator.
- Current Trend - The direction of progress is shown by a Color Arrow to reflect our Current Progress status, and also noting for how many data points the direction been occurring.
- Baseline Change % - The percentage of change between the baseline data point and the current data point (actual value); also shown with a Color Arrow to describe Current Progress status.
Strategy
The DHHS Division of Public Health facilitated a workforce development survey and produced a final Workforce Development Plan in 2014. Each Unit was then provided their respective information and were prompted to provide training plans relevant to their staff needs.
This process began with the Office of Public Health Practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health (COPH), who conducted a comprehensive assessment of the workforce education and training needs of the DHHS, Division of Public Health. Two surveys, one for administrative support staff and one for all other staff, were developed by a committee that included representation from all Units within the Division of Public Health and from the COPH, Office of Public Health Practice. The surveys were based on a 2010 modified version of the Council on Linkages between Academia and Public Health Practice. After they were piloted and finalized, online surveys were sent to Division of Public Health staff and administrative staff in November 2013.
The results of the survey were used to identify priority workforce education and training needs. Improving the skills and competencies of the Division’s workforce is essential in building a high performance public health system. Fundamental to this work is identifying gaps in knowledge and skills through the assessment of needs and addressing those gaps through targeted training and development opportunities. Health departments must have a competent workforce with the skills and experience needed to perform duties and to carry out each department’s respective mission. This document provides a comprehensive workforce development plan for the Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health.
*The Office of Public Health Practice also conducted an assessment of workforce education and training needs for local health departments, providing them with their respective results. Local health departments pursued training plans as desired or as determined appropriate.
Why Is This Important?
Numerous health-related data are available in Nebraska. This objective focused on increasing the timely reporting of accurate and relevant public health data. This can be accomplished through the development of interactive web-based tools, prioritization and improved communication.
Story Behind the Curve
Nebraska SHIP Priority 5: The Nebraska public health system has expanded capacity to collect, analyze and report health data.
For this SHIP Priority, several activities were planned for implementation:
- Expand public health data through interactive web-based tools
- Develop public health data facts sheets and make available to the public
- Implement processes to increase awareness of public health data availability.
Definition
This scorecard is created to track performance, therefore the demonstration of data (numerical and narrative) describes what we define as success. In some instances, a trend may be moving in the wrong direction, but still may be within our 'Target for Success' area. The use of Color Arrows (and sometimes also Color Bands) help to define the Target for Success and Current Progress.
Green, Black and Red color arrows are used to reflect our 'Current Progress' status.
- GREEN Arrow = We're getting better!
- BLACK Arrow = We're maintaining our position.
- RED Arrow = We're going in the wrong direction.
Green, Yellow or Red color bands are used to reflect our 'Target for Success' zones.
- GREEN Color Band = We've reached our Target for Success!
- YELLOW Color Band = We're making progress, but not quite there yet.
- RED Color Band = We're below our Target for Success.
Data is described with the Time Period, Actual Value, Target Value, Current Trend and Baseline Change %. These mean:
- Time Period - The most current time period for which the data were available.
- Actual Value - The actual level of achievement, the most current data point for the indicator; also shown in a Color Band to reflect if that value is or is not within our Target for Success zone.
- Target Value - The desired level of achievement for the rate of that data indicator.
- Current Trend - The direction of progress is shown by a Color Arrow to reflect our Current Progress status, and also noting for how many data points the direction been occurring.
- Baseline Change % - The percentage of change between the baseline data point and the current data point (actual value); also shown with a Color Arrow to describe Current Progress status.
Strategy
One strategy to achieve these SHIP activities is to establish performance dashboards for the SHIP and for the Nebraska Healthy People 2020. Performance dashboards are utilized to share goals, relevant data, activities intended to impact the goals, and performance measures that indicate and track the level of achievement. The Division of Public Health-Office of Community Health and Performance Management developed performance these dashboards utilizing the Results Based Accountability framework and scorecard, and is partnering with two local health departments and two other Division programs to pilot the use of performance dashboards for there activities as well. The SHIP and Nebraska Healthy People 2020 dashboards went live in September 2015.
These electronic scorecards provide access to SHIP and Nebraska Healthy People 2020 public health data with ease, and the ability to track progress of the health indicators as well as programmatic activities implemented by the Division of Public Health and SHIP partners to improve the health and well-being of Nebraskans.
Another strategy to improve access to public health data is to update the Nebraska Public Health Joint Data Center's data inventory. Public health practitioners often rely on health data in order to research health problems and evaluate public health interventions. The Public Health Data Inventory was developed in 2011 to help increase awareness of existing data related to public health, as well as to simplify the process for data requests. In 2015, a project to update the Public Health Data Inventory was begun in order to ensure accurate information and descriptions are available about these public health data sets. The website is currently being redesigned to improve access and completeness of information within the Data Inventory, and is expected to be launched for public use by calendar year end 2015.
Click here to access the Public Health Data Inventory: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/DataCenter/Pages/I...
Why Is This Important?
The integration and utilization of health data by data users can be improved with a better understanding about what data are available and how to use them. Efforts to better inform data users and link data users with epidemiologist, analysts, and researches would likely result in better health planning and evaluation efforts and subsequently more effective public health practice and outcomes. Advancements in the use and exchange of health information through electronic health records will eventually provide an opportunity to better inform public health practice.
Story Behind the Curve
Nebraska SHIP Priority 5: The Nebraska public health system has expanded capacity to collect, analyze and report health data.
For this SHIP Priority, several activities were planned for implementation:
- Update the list of public health data resources annually.
- Increase the collaborative studies between public health practitioners and researchers.
Definition
This scorecard is created to track performance, therefore the demonstration of data (numerical and narrative) describes what we define as success. In some instances, a trend may be moving in the wrong direction, but still may be within our 'Target for Success' area. The use of Color Arrows (and sometimes also Color Bands) help to define the Target for Success and Current Progress.
Green, Black and Red color arrows are used to reflect our 'Current Progress' status.
- GREEN Arrow = We're getting better!
- BLACK Arrow = We're maintaining our position.
- RED Arrow = We're going in the wrong direction.
Green, Yellow or Red color bands are used to reflect our 'Target for Success' zones.
- GREEN Color Band = We've reached our Target for Success!
- YELLOW Color Band = We're making progress, but not quite there yet.
- RED Color Band = We're below our Target for Success.
Data is described with the Time Period, Actual Value, Target Value, Current Trend and Baseline Change %. These mean:
- Time Period - The most current time period for which the data were available.
- Actual Value - The actual level of achievement, the most current data point for the indicator; also shown in a Color Band to reflect if that value is or is not within our Target for Success zone.
- Target Value - The desired level of achievement for the data indicator.
- Current Trend - The direction of progress is shown by a Color Arrow to reflect our Current Progress status, and also noting for how many data points the direction been occurring.
- Baseline Change % - The percentage of change between the baseline data point and the current data point (actual value); also shown with a Color Arrow to describe Current Progress status.
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