Tapping into EHRs for public health insights – with Brian Dixon

The COVID-19 pandemic has had spillover effects on screening and preventive care. But even before the novel coronavirus, adequate screening for disease, especially among vulnerable people, was still a public health concern.A recent study from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University found that even though screening rates have improved, about one in five women still do not receive a test for syphilis during pregnancy –- which is recommended by the CDC given the serious threat syphilis can pose to the health of the fetus. Brian Dixon, study senior author and director of public health informatics at the Regenstrief Institute, joined Healthcare IT News to speak about the research and the role IT can play in informatics.Talking points:-Rates of congenital syphilis have been rising-Previous studies have largely only used claims data-The benefits of syphilis screening during pregnancy-Disparities in syphilis screening rates, and what might be behind them-The potential effects of COVID-19 on screening rates-How public health leaders could use information like this-More ways health IT can be used to support public health objectives-The next projects on deck at RegenstriefMore about this episode:Regenstrief, IU launch public and population health programRegenstrief launches initiative to disseminate SDOH dataHow HIEs can enable public health reporting when EHRs fall shortHospitals facing big hurdles to public health data reportingCIOs plan big investments in EHR optimization and pop health IT