“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of data sharing – as well as the frustrating consequences of unpreparedness when public health information is siloed and cannot be easily exchanged.”
“Information sharing woes were recognized early on in the pandemic as an impediment to successful management. For example, just months into the crisis, hospitals and public health agencies often had to rely on spreadsheets to exchange critical public health data. While some public-private initiatives sought to fill the gap, improvements in data sharing took months to achieve.”
“Given all the data sharing difficulties, the government’s ongoing Data Modernization Initiative, is critical. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched DMI in 2020 to modernize the sharing of core data and surveillance information across federal and state public health agencies.”
“According information provided by the CDC, the DMI is aiming to ‘move from siloed and brittle public health data systems to connected, resilient, adaptable and sustainable ‘response-ready’ systems’ that can get in front of future health crises. It intends to ‘deliver real-time, high-quality information on both infectious and non-infectious threats.'”
“Questions about progress
But the CDC is off to a slow start in achieving those lofty DMI goals, according to a report released in late April by the Government Accountability Office. The CDC has yet to establish action steps and deadlines for the DMI, the GAO said. And the watchdog agency also noted that the CDC has not yet allocated the $1.1 billion it received for the DMI.”
“The CDC, however, will scrutinize the DMI as part of an agencywide review of its inner workings ordered in early April by its director, Rochelle Walensky, MD.”
“Meanwhile some healthcare associations are pushing for more investment in the DMI effort, saying the lack of a data exchange infrastructure hampered the country’s response to the pandemic…” Read the full article here.
Source: Data Modernization Initiative aims to meet lofty goals for public health – By Fred Bazzoli, May 10, 2022. Health Data Management.
