Progress in Public Health Informatics
The possibility of public health emergencies arising in the United States concerns many people in the wake of recent hurricanes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, and the threat of pandemic influenza. Natural disasters, disease outbreaks, accidents involving hazardous substances, terrorist attacks using biological or chemical weapons-these public health threats are unfortunate realities of modern life.
Disasters can affect air quality, cause shortages of safe water and food, and cut off access to electricity, gas, telephone, and other services. Presently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the American Health Information Community (AHIC) is working toward the development and adoption of standards-based healthcare and public health information systems that are capable of sharing information across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries. These interoperable information systems provide both routine and emergency functions such as biosurveillance, outbreak management, and electronic laboratory reporting to aid public health in preparing for catastrophic disaster.
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