Health Information Technology and Informatics

Thanks to innovations in medicine and technology, people are living longer in the United States. In fact, one in five Americans will be 65 years or older in 2020. This means that the development, implementation, and interoperability of health information systems that improve healthcare delivery is more important than ever. Informatics — the applied science of information and computer information systems — streamlines healthcare systems to enable clearer communication between providers, expand access to and ensure continuity in care across the lifespan, and improve the public's health.

NACCHO has a number of initiatives aimed at helping local health departments advance the use of informatics at their agency. Please contact phinformatics@naccho.org with any questions.

The inaugural Local Health IT (LHIT) virtual conference is an online meeting space for those involved in local health department technology to learn about best practices and to discuss trending issues.

• Mission: To connect local health departments through digital platforms.
• Vision: NACCHO Local Health IT 2019 will be an online space for IT staff to meet virtually and share replicable best practices with an emphasis on cybersecurity, telehealth application, websites, among others.

For more information about how to get involved in this growing Community of Practice, email amcpherson [at] naccho [dot] org.

Hosted biennially by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the next Public Health Informatics Conference will take place in August 2020 in Atlanta, GA. Stay tuned for more information!