Difference between service-based and population-based applications for information systems in public health organizations
Sufficient data is necessary for sound decision making in public health management. The public health information systems play a role in generating, analyzing and disseminating health care information. Public health agencies need well-formulated information systems to make critical decisions and to fulfill their responsibilities to the clients. The important deliberations that these public health agencies take in designing the health information systems include population-based and service-based application aims of the public health organizations (Magnuson & Fu, 2014).
Service-based applications for information systems in public health agencies involve applying the information to perform health related activities like administration of health facilities. Also, service-based data enhances specific services that public health organizations offer to manage individual clients (Curley & Vitale, 2012). On the other hand, public-based applications for public health agencies involve functions like policy making, surveillance and program evaluation (Magnuson & Fu, 2014). The major distinction between service-based and population-based application is in the individual and group context of the health information.
All in all, while there is a difference in the application of service-based and population-based application of data, the role of such health information systems is systematically interrelated. For instance, screening of blood for children under the age of five years to test for common health infection is an example of service-based application. Such practice does not exclusively offer data on the whole population. However, public health organizations may use the information from the service entities in public-based applications such as surveillance and program evaluation. Therefore, service-based information contributes to population-based applications for information systems in public health organizations.
References
Curley, A. L. C., & Vitale, P. A. (2012).Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies for advanced practice. New York, N.Y: Springer Pub. Co.
Magnuson, J. A., & Fu, P. C. (2014).Public health informatics and information systems.
