COVID 19: A Catalyst for Change

(August 11, 2022) "COVID 19: A Catalyst for Change and How It transforms the National Health Data Ecosystem and Health of American Communities"

Speaker: J.T. Lane, SVP for Population Health & Innovation at the
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Winston Churchill is widely credited for saying just that when he and other world leaders established the United Nations after WWII. Will COVID-19 be the catalyst we need to more profoundly transform the U.S. health data ecosystem? As local, state, and federal public health data modernization takes shape, there will be benefits for the public, health care providers, and the public health agencies leading the charge. But our work does not stop there. Simultaneously, opportunities abound to integrate social determinants of health data, health equity strategies, and the social sector to complement these billion-dollar efforts. The result could be a more unified, foundational public and private sector approach that supports the goals of health care, public health, social service providers, and many others. Most importantly, it should shape a health data ecosystem that streamlines and drives access to physical, behavioral, and social health care and services, improves quality, and advances optimal health for all Americans.