Data Modernization to Improve Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on public health data infrastructure challenges that have been around for decades. At Mathematica, we understand these challenges are rooted much deeper than information technology (IT): workforce depletion, varying political positions on the role of public health, complicated legal requirements for data sharing, threats against public health authority, and underfunded systems all contribute to the challenges of modernizing and sustaining the public health system. As evidenced by the joint work between the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to support the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) North Star Architecture, data modernization is rapidly moving in all facets of government and private sector. Without careful planning and focused resources, state, territorial, local, or tribal (STLTs) jurisdictions will continue to face the same data challenges they have for decades, leaving them further below the curve than ever before.

As a mission-driven organization, Mathematica is dedicated to improving public well-being. Public health data modernization is a foundational step in meeting that mission. Our multi-disciplined team includes subject matter experts, methodologists, and technologists that collaborate to provide solutions that work. We strive to improve public health infrastructure, forge and strengthen partnerships, work collaboratively with communities, and gather and analyze data to guide equitable action.