Efficient and human-centered health data exchange is vital for modern public health systems. The CDC’s Case Service Design (CSD) initiative exemplifies a comprehensive effort to enhance how case data is shared and utilized across various jurisdictions, including states, tribes, localities, and territories. By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, CSD aims to develop solutions that improve timely access to critical public health information, ultimately strengthening disease prevention and control efforts.
Key Objectives of Case Service Design
At its core, CSD focuses on creating integrated, human-centered systems that facilitate seamless case data exchange among public health entities. This initiative seeks to empower public health professionals with accurate, relevant data, enabling more informed decision-making. Solutions from CSD will support the collection, sharing, and analysis of case data, which are essential for effective public health actions. These efforts are aligned with the broader goal of defining the future landscape for case data exchange and informing the evolution of the Public Health Data Strategy.
Developing Solutions Through a Collaborative Approach
A diverse team of experts in public health, design, product development, and technology is working together to develop comprehensive solutions. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that the design of case data exchange systems addresses technical, operational, and user-centric needs. The team adopts a holistic view, considering every stage from initial data collection at the point of care to the implementation of public health interventions.
The solutions aim to make it easier for public health officials, healthcare providers, and the general public to access the right health data at the right time for the right public health response. This approach aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize health information systems, including the role of electronic health records in supporting clinical and public health workflows. For insights into future trends, explore the role and significance of electronic health records in modern general practice.
These innovations will help define a preferred future state for case data sharing, guiding the development of more effective public health responses and supporting the continuous evolution of data strategies.
Engaging Stakeholders to Shape the Future
CDC emphasizes the importance of engaging a broad range of public health partners to ensure that the solutions reflect diverse needs and perspectives. This collaborative process involves:
- Conducting internal interviews with program practitioners to gather insights from within CDC.
- Holding external interviews with practitioners across jurisdictions to understand real-world challenges.
- Facilitating focus groups with healthcare systems and providers to capture frontline experiences.
- Seeking ongoing feedback from national public health organizations and federal agencies.
- Organizing in-person workshops where selected public health professionals collaboratively design the future state of case data exchange.
This participatory approach ensures that modernization efforts are equitable and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders, advancing data systems that protect the health, safety, and security of communities.
Gathering Insights to Drive Innovation
Between March and October 2024, the CSD team conducted 25 site visits to health departments at the state, tribal, and local levels. These visits provided valuable insights into existing workflows, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The team plans to expand these visits in 2025, particularly focusing on tribal health authorities to ensure their specific needs are addressed.
Interesting:
In August 2024, CDC convened a summit bringing together over 100 epidemiologists and data scientists from 25 jurisdictions, along with representatives from 11 public health organizations and CDC centers. This gathering fostered rich discussions and idea generation around future surveillance capabilities. Participants shared their experiences, identified common challenges, and contributed to a shared vision for the future of case-based surveillance.
Over two days, attendees collaborated to refine their understanding of long-standing issues and innovative opportunities. The summit’s outputs include validated needs, future state scenarios, and a prioritized list of workstreams. These insights will guide the development of strategic plans and actionable steps to realize the envisioned future.
Deliverables to Support Implementation and Continuous Improvement
To ensure successful adoption and ongoing refinement of new systems, CDC will produce several key deliverables:
- A detailed future state experience outlining optimal workflows.
- A comprehensive strategic roadmap guiding implementation phases.
- Service blueprints that map out touchpoints and processes.
- Concise product briefs to inform development teams.
These tools will facilitate coordination, clarity, and adaptability as public health systems evolve. For further insights into the digital transformation of health data, review advancing digital access and citizen engagement.
About the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
The CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) plays a critical role in disease monitoring by collecting and sharing case data from various health departments. This system enables public health officials to track, control, and prevent serious diseases effectively, supporting timely responses at all levels of health governance.
For more detailed information about the NNDSS and its modernization efforts, visit the official NNDSS page.
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Contact the CSD team at caseservicedesign@cdc.gov for more information about these initiatives and how they are shaping the future of public health data exchange.