Partnership and Innovation

Definition:   

Public health relies on diverse partnerships, including healthcare, academic, private, community, and nonprofit organizations, for driving innovation and impact through data. As technology evolves, existing partnerships expand and new ones emerge. While enhanced data access offers a comprehensive community health portrait, it introduces new and significant management considerations. State, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies are utilizing innovation to expertly navigate this new landscape.  

National Picture:    

A priority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Data Modernization Initiative is supporting and extending external partnerships, such as with healthcare and laboratories, to unlock new data streams for public health like electronic case reports. New partnerships, including wastewater testing, big tech organizations, even social media continue to emerge and offer potential for public health practice. Public health agencies leveraged these partnerships to innovate, from tracking COVID-19 levels in wastewater to implementing smartphone apps to track and notify citizens of COVID-19 exposure. Public health-related technology continues to evolve with the introduction of new messaging standards, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Partnerships and innovation include powerful visualizations and timely identification of areas of opportunity.