Digital Town SquareA place-based approach to health

information management

The Goal

• PBI = Large-scale community-based health promotion initiative focused at a local level (e.g. USA Healthy Cities Project, ‘Promise Neighbourhoods’; UK Health Action Zones).

• Logan Beaudesert PBI to alleviate chronic disease burden via addressing complex social determinants of health

• Support integration and collaboration across multiple sectors within communities

• Sustainable strategies focused on participation, partnerships & integrated actions at local level

Concept: Digital Town Square• Online infrastructure for data sharing

and evidence-based resources:• Policy at local and state level;

• Health service & urban planning;

• Models of health care delivery and place based health promotion.

• Online community:• Sustainable learning, planning and support networks;

• Place based e-health promotion;

• Integrated planning.

The Research

• Pilot implementation of DTS with one health promotion network – early years;

• Digitises existing offline interventions;• Compares online & offline environments

& outcomes;• Explores synergies between online &

offline approaches to health promotion & service delivery.

The Information Equation

Policy

Information Resources Level of Influence Outcome

Practitioner

Consumer

Evidence BaseProfessional Networks

Consumer SurveysCompliments & Complaints

Evidence BaseProfessional NetworksConsumer Self-reports

Informal ResearchPersonal Networks

Service Delivery ModelsUrban Planning & Design

Person-centred CareIndividual/Group Education

Self-assessment & Self-management

Health Status & Social Determinants of

Health

DTS

The Platform

Digital Stories

Public Level Modules

Service Directory Updates

Service Level Modules

Policy Level Modules

Administrator Level Functions

HDSS Secure Server

Griffith Uni Firewall

Content Management System

Health Decision Support System

Learning Management System

Social Networking Plugins

iPhone Application

Digital Town Square Graphical User InterfaceB

ack

end

App

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ions

& S

erve

rsP

rivat

e D

omai

nP

ublic

Dom

ain

Polls & Surveys

Online Service

Provision

Self-management

Programs

Social Networks

Service Directory

List Management SMS Server Web Server

HDSS Reports

Predictive Modelling Reports

Evidence Repository

Coalition Network

HDSS Application

Predictive Modelling Reports

Data UpdatesPermission

Levels

Module Enhancement

s

Queensland Health

Information Systems

Visualisation/Modelling

General PublicMobile Phones

Other Information

Systems TBC

Hospital Waiting Lists

Yellow modules are accessible via the DTS web server; orange modules access an external application via a secure interface or portal view.

Evidence Repository

Service Integration

Tools

Digital Town Square System Overview

The Modules

• Core modules:– HDSS (web based GIS)– Predictive Modelling– Evidence Repository– Online Coaching– Digital Stories (lived experience of DOH)– Coalition Private Domain

The Benefits• Central point of contact/reference• Accesses rural/remote consumers• Sharing ‘siloed’ data across complex networks• Links consumers, practitioners & policy

makers• Cost-effective digital interventions • Ready data collection opportunities• Local relevance of information & networks• Portable infrastructure

Key Questions for HIM• How can the local community readily provide input

into health-related programs and services?

• How can we foster collaboration across services?

• How can we make better use of research and evidence-based resources?

• How do we foster a holistic approach to health using information?