Author: Kailee Curtis

Epidemiology and Surveillance

Federal, state, and local health entities regularly collect and analyze data to understand the extent of health risk behaviors, preventive care practices, and the burden of chronic diseases to assess progress of public health programs and provide public health professionals and policy makers with timely information for effective decision making.

Key Positions
Data Analyst/Epidemiologist
Communicable Disease Nurse*
MDHHS Regional Epidemiologist**

Combined FTE: 0.29

Aligns with BEDHD Strategic Priorities:

A strong, healthy start in life
Healthy and safe food, water and air
Protect the community from potential health hazards
Enhance involvement, engagement, and collaboration

Meets Public Health Standards:

*No dedicated funding is allotted for epidemiology and surveillance but CD Nurse will participate in epidemiology and surveillance activities as needed
**BEDHD will utilize services from MDHHS Regional Epidemiologists as needed, however no local agency funds are allotted for this position

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
ü	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
BEDHD epidemiology and surveillance activities include regularly analyzing and reviewing county, state, and national data to assess the health of the community. Using this data BEDHD data analysts can identify trends in communicable and chronic diseases, accidents, and morbidity and mortality. These trends or changes help to guide other activities in the health department by identifying areas for public health intervention. Additionally, BEDHD uses epidemiology and surveillance data to report to stakeholders and funders and inform the Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP).
Goals:
BEDHD epidemiology and surveillance activities are meant to:
Identify and monitor trends in morbidity and mortality in the community
Provide data to inform necessary public health interventions

Health Improvement Efforts:

ü	Barry Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan
ü	Eaton Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan

FY17 Funding Sources for BEDHD Epidemiology and Surveillance Efforts:

State Grants

Local Funding

Impact:
In 2017 BEDHD published a three year Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance (BRFS) report containing trends of health
behaviors and diseases.

In 2017 a Community Health Promotion Specialist gave presentations about the dangers of e-cigarettes and tobacco to the Board of Health and the Barry County Commissioners.