Cover: What Data Should Be Included in a Modern Public Health Data System

What Data Should Be Included in a Modern Public Health Data System

Published in: Big Data, Volume 10, Issue S1, pages S9–S14 (September 2022). doi: 10.1089/big.2022.0205

Posted on RAND.org on September 14, 2022

by Joie D. Acosta, Anita Chandra, Douglas Yeung, Christopher Nelson, Nabeel Qureshi, Tara Laila Blagg, Laurie T. Martin

The public is inundated with data, both in where data are ubiquitously collected and in how organizations are using data to drive public sector and commercial decisions. The public health data system is no exception to this flood of data, both in growing data volume and variety. However, what are collected and analyzed about the health status of the nation, how particular data and measures are prioritized for parsimony, and how those data provide a signal for where to invest to address health inequities are in dire need of a reboot. As with other articles in this supplement, this article builds from a literature review, an environmental scan, and deliberations from the National Commission to Transform Public Health Data Systems. The article summarizes what data should be included and identifies where the technology and data sectors can contribute to fill current gaps to measure equity, positive health, and well-being.

Research conducted by

This report is part of the RAND Corporation External publication series. Many RAND studies are published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals, as chapters in commercial books, or as documents published by other organizations.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.