Public Health Information Systems: From Data to Knowledge

Abstract

Public Health Information Systems (PHIS) in the new era of Big Data, Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics should be based on effective knowledge management (KM) theories, strategies and frameworks. We espouse a maturity model for PHIS based on the health impact pyramid metaphor to represent the transition from data to a knowledge-based system. We apply the knowledge-based view to describe how PHIS is different from other health information systems. We also propose pragmatic solutions to the challenges of knowledge management in public health and propose guidelines for evaluating software artifacts in PHIS.