1) Public health informatics applies information science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning. It involves four core knowledge domains: organization and systems management; information systems; information technology; and public health. 2) Core competencies for public health informatics include skills in areas like project management, change management, information systems implementation and evaluation, information technology hardware, and resource management. 3) Education in public health informatics can enhance practitioners' skills in data collection, organization, manipulation and reporting. Schools and graduate programs can provide introductory, advanced, and professional training to educate the public health workforce.

1. PADMASHREE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CORE COMPETENCIES IN
PUBLIC HEALTH INFORAMTICS
-BY
Dr. RAHUL SHRIVASTAVA
BDS, FAGE, MPH

2. WHAT’S PH - INFORMATICS ?
• Public health informatics is the systematic application of information and
computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and
learning. - (Patrick O’ Carroll)

3. WHAT’S CORE COMPETENCY ?
• A CORE COMPETENCY is a concept in management theory introduced
by, C.K.Prahalad and Gary Hamel. It can be defined as "a harmonized combination
of multiple resources and skills that distinguish a firm in the marketplace".
• Core competencies fulfill THREE CRITERIA:
1. Provides potential access to a wide variety of markets.
2. Should make a significant contribution to the perceived customer benefits of the
end product.
3. Difficult to imitate by competitors.
For example, a company's core competencies may include precision mechanics, fine
optics, and micro-electronics. These help it build cameras, but may also be useful in
making other products that require these competencies.
A core competency results from a specific set of skills or production techniques that
deliver additional value to the customer. These enable an organization to access a
wide variety of markets.

4. INTRODUCTION
• 4 steps cyclic process define the core knowledge of PH informatics.
• This process can be well described by following,
• Examination of curricula – that leads to the acquisition of knowledge of a field
which in turn suggest knowledge domains / fields of knowledge.
• These knowledge domains provide the basis for the development of competencies
(general ability that an individual needs to possess in order to apply knowledge),
which then lead to the skills and knowledge (the SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE) which is
required for exercise of the competencies.
• Finally, these skills and knowledge provide the basis for what needs to be taught in
a curriculum that is designed to convey the core knowledge.
• This cyclic process is continuous.

5. Curricula/ work knowledge
Knowledge Domains Skills and knowledge
Competencies
The knowledge determination process

6. CORE PUBLIC HEALTH KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS
1. Analytic/ assessment skills
2. Basic PH science skills
3. Cultural competency skills
4. Communications skills
5. Community dimensions of practice skills
6. Financial planning and management skills
7. Leadership and systems thinking skills
8. Policy development / program planning skills

7. CORE DISCIPLINES OF PHI
SCIENCES MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Computer science Technology, database &
network management
Knowledge representation
skills
Information science Information management Technical skills
Behavioral science Personnel management People, communication &
interpersonal skills
Organizational science Organizational
management
Facilitation & leadership
skills
Management science Resource, program, project
& process management
Management & planning

8. KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS OF PHI
DOMAIN I DOMAIN II DOMAIN III DOMAIN IV
Organization & systems
management
Information
systems
Information
technology
Public health

9. • Organization & systems management : This domain includes the competencies
needed to manage projects, programs and organizational and technology systems.
• Information systems : This domain contains competencies needed to
1. Design
2. Develop
3. Implement
4. Evaluate Information system
• Information technology : It emphasis on technology i.e. on hardware and
software. It includes the technology used to complete a task, whereas IS are
overall methods.
• Public health : it includes 5 core PH disciplines ,
1. Behavioral science
2. Biostatistics
3. Environmental health
4. Epidemiology
5. Health services
without knowledge of these disciplines, a PH informatician is unable to apply
systems & technology effectively to support PH practice.

10. CRITICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE FOR PH
PRACTITIONERS
• Develop strategic plans that reflect future needs of PH and Information
Technology.
• Apply leadership & advocacy skills within all levels of PH system.
• Demonstrate good communication skills to interact variety of technical & health
professionals.
• Maintain security, privacy & confidentiality of personal & PH information.
• Use presentation applications, web browsers & search engines.
• Apply biostatistics theory & methods.
• Apply environmental & occupational health theory, principles and legislations.
• Apply epidemiology theory & methods.
• Apply health service administration theory, methods, principles & models.

11. IMPORTANT COMPETENCIES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS & INFORMATICIANS
• Apply project management skills and knowledge to develop PHIS.
• Use change management skills and knowledge to encourage adaptation of current
method and adoption of new methods of information management .
• Use information system skills and knowledge in the implementation of PHS.
• Use information system skills and knowledge to evaluate implemented PHIS.
• Apply skills and knowledge about information technology hardware to assist in
development and adoption of appropriate IT in PH.
• Apply skills and knowledge about operating system, software and applications
when developing or consulting on a PHIS.
• Apply resource management skills and knowledge to provide efficient support for
PHIS.

12. IMPORTANCE
• Enhances skill and knowledge
• Collection
• Organizing
• Manipulating
• Reporting data and information

13. EDUCATION CAN BE DELIVERED THROUGH
Schools and Graduate Programs of Public health –
1. Introductory training – basics, computer literacy , information literacy ,basic
information management and software programs.
2. Advanced training – competencies , skills and knowledge .
3. Informatician training – (MPH) – interested in pursuing professional careers in
PHI.

14. CONCLUSION & CHALLENGES
• The challenging facing PHI is educating the PH workforce in the knowledge
domains that are the framework for PHI.
• For PH informaticians, competencies must include a host of management-related
skills , not merely specialization in technology.
• To create educational experiences that are easily accessible for PH practitioners
and informaticians.
• PH schools and graduate programs, professional organizations need to collaborate
in developing educational program that provide practitioners to increase their
informatics skills without leaving their jobs.
• In addition , addressing these challenges will require the leadership in PH to
recognize the need for these skills and to provide the necessary training for
employees to acquire them.

15. REFERENCES
• www.cdc.gov/PHIFP/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_competency
• The sciences of public health informatics – part II , springer page 98-112