DPH Information Services Group does an about PHACE

PHACE is an online social network developed to facilitate communication and information exchange across DPH. The network is currently in its pilot phase.

Nearly three months ago, Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, gathered 80 public health practitioners to set a new direction for the Department of Public Health’s Information Services. Part of the plan to create a centralized IS system for the state, districts and counties involved the creation of the Public Health Active Communication Exchange, or PHACE.

Much like Facebook, PHACE is an online discussion forum and project team communication tool dedicated to ensuring the exchange of information across all districts. Currently, PHACE is a pilot program and is only open to members of the Information systems group, who are testing the site.

“The different information services teams are using PHACE for posting and sharing documents, coordinating meetings and milestones, as well as general team communications,” said Tim Callahan, Director, Evaluation and Support Program, Environmental Health, and a member of the communications action team of the IS group. “For example, every team is maintaining an updated version of their team charter and work products on their team's page. “

Feedback on PHACE has been positive, with users admiring its ability to promote communication across organizational lines and to provide users with all the same information at their fingertips at the same time. Once the IS project is well underway, and the governance group gives authorization, the group hopes to expand PHACE to serve all of DPH.

“The teams and programs using PHACE will be able to collaborate more easily on a single platform for managing specific projects and initiatives across the state in cooperation with county, district and external partners,” said Callahan. “This robust platform will facilitate cross-profession task forces, as well a collection of a knowledge that all users can reference and build upon.”

Eventually, all DPH staff could have access to what can become an easily searched massive library of information to use in supporting the work we all do.

“PHACE is a good pilot,” said Perry Sims, Chief Information Officer. “It is a good way to assess the security, business continuity, disaster recovery, detailed business needs for communications and document management.”

In creating PHACE, the IS group has taken the first step in creating a state-of-the-art information system for all of public health.

-Story by Kimberly Stringer, DPH Communications

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