Purpose
Take our quiz to test your knowledge on public health data – where it comes from, how it is used, and what we need to make sure we have the best data available to inform action and save lives.
Why Public Health Data is Important
Accurate and timely data are foundational to a functional public health system where CDC and our state and local partners can effectively conduct day-to-day activities, rapidly respond to emerging threats, and forecast to better understand the potential impact of diseases and prepare for public health threats of all types acute, chronic, and emerging. The backbone of public health data: hospitals, physician offices, laboratories, state, territorial, local and tribal (STLT) public health departments, CDC, and other countries all provide data that play a role in what we know, and when we know it. This enables us to prepare for and respond to existing and emerging health challenges.
Why We Need Public Health Data
One of the best ways to protect Americans from health threats is to have the systems in place to rapidly share data across all levels of government and private and non-profit sectors. For example, linking health care and public health data is crucial to achieving a comprehensive information infrastructure that gives us better, faster, and more actionable data. This allows public health authorities at every level to respond more effectively to public health challenges across the country.
Investments Are Still Needed
For decades, the public health data infrastructure has been neglected, receiving limited funding to build the core capabilities needed to ensure a robust system that can respond swiftly. In recent years, thanks to investments from Congress, much progress has been made to enhance access to quality and timely data. CDC has been able to support better, faster, actionable data so that jurisdictions can make the best public health decisions for their communities. As the nation’s public health agency, CDC is responsible for helping jurisdictions develop a robust infrastructure and provides STLTs with a majority of the funding they receive for public health data modernization. CDC is also increasing the use of modeling and forecasting tools to enhance the effective use of public health resources. CDC is investing at federal, state, and local levels. However, sustainable investments and additional policy levers from Congress are needed to continue this progress by leveraging and building upon these successes.