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More than 50 recognized experts from public health organizations and leading public health schools provide a comprehensive review of this emerging discipline, including both principles and applications. The 34 chapters are presented in five sections:

* "The Context for Public Health Informatics," including the principles, history, effects, and the governmental and legislative context of public health informatics

* "The Science of Public Health Informatics," focusing on basics such as information architecture, core competencies, information systems value assessment, IT personnel and project management, and other fundamentals

* "Key Public Health Information Systems," including chapters focusing on the nature and uses of resources such as the National Vital Statistics System

* "New Challenges, Emerging Systems," including discussions covering recent developments such as GIS systems as well as new means of data collection and data access in public health

* "Case Studies: Applications of Information Systems Development," illustrating public health informatics in action in a wide range of areas

Average Customer Rating:

Excellent introduction and review

Customer Rating:

The publication of this book has been highly anticipated by many in the emerging field of public health informatics and it does not disappoint. Although seemingly targeted at those new or recently introduced to the discipline, or those "crossing over" from other areas within the broader informatics arena, content is very well-suited for all comers, with sufficient detail to satisfy even those familiar with the many issues detailed in the richly detailed case example chapters. The breadth of material covered is excellent, making it especially appropriate as an introductory or intermediate text. Of particular interest will be the section of the book on "The Science of Public Health Informatics" which includes particularly fine chapters on information architecture, value assessment, management of personnel and projects, and organizational change. Bill Yasnoff does a particularly good job adding clarity to a muddled domain in a chapter on privacy, confidentiality, and security of Public Health Information. Those readers generally interested in PHI education, or with specific interest in developing training programs for PHI programs or for public health agency personnel would find great value in Janise Richard's chapter on core competencies. The writing style is generally clear and illustrative, albeit not terribly concise. We have adopted this book as the core text for our graduate-level introductory course in PHI.