Strengthening data governance in US public health agencies

Data and information management, including data governance, has emerged as a top ten policy and technology priority for state chief information officers (CIOs) in recent years. This ranking highlights the greater focus organizations are placing on the use of data to support faster and richer insight generation.

Data governance can be especially critical for enabling the functions of state public health agencies. For example, a single, unified framework can enable earlier detection of public health threats, a more coordinated response to public health emergencies, better-informed daily decision making, and an increased ability to manage risks. In our experience, public health agencies may benefit from focusing on four key dimensions (based on the McKinsey DRIVE framework) as they develop and implement their data governance approach: data strategy, impact case, and road map; information architecture and technology; value, operating model, and governance for public health; and ethics, talent, and culture. To help agencies get started with this approach, this article offers eight insights and relevant examples drawn from existing efforts across US state agencies.

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