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Public Health Informatics and Information Systems pp 239–258Cite as

Informatics in Disease Prevention and Epidemiology

Part of the Health Informatics book series (HI)

Abstract

Technology changes continually, but the principles underlying informatics, epidemiology, and disease control are persistent. This chapter explores these principles and illustrates the varied information systems that support epidemiology. Concepts including reportable/notifiable diseases, passive/active surveillance, and the common components of public health prevention programs are discussed.

Public health information systems support certain common functions. Four of these functions and their informatics implications are examined: public health surveillance; outbreak or cluster recognition and response; acquisition of laboratory information; and field investigation. The chapter provides an understanding of public health interoperability and integration challenges, solutions, and future goals.

Keywords

  • Active surveillance
  • Case reports
  • Cluster
  • Disease prevention
  • Epidemiology
  • Incidence
  • Infectious disease
  • Notifiable condition
  • Outbreak
  • Passive surveillance
  • Positive predictive value
  • Registry
  • Reportable condition
  • Surveillance system

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Fig. 14.1
Fig. 14.2

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    J. A. Magnuson

  2. Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Richard Hopkins

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Timothy D. McFarlane

Authors
  1. J. A. Magnuson
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  2. Richard Hopkins
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  3. Timothy D. McFarlane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. A. Magnuson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    J.A. Magnuson

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Indiana University, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Brian E. Dixon

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Magnuson, J.A., Hopkins, R., McFarlane, T.D. (2020). Informatics in Disease Prevention and Epidemiology. In: Magnuson, J., Dixon, B. (eds) Public Health Informatics and Information Systems . Health Informatics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41215-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41215-9_14

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