Data Collection Topic for Health and Hospitals Committee of Cook County Board

Cook County Board of Commissioners
Health and Hospitals Committee 
December 17, 2024, 1:30pm
​
Dr. Hasbrouck, head of Cook County Public Health, did a presentation on Data Collection through a Health Equity lens. 

• He emphasized fast versus slow data collection and explained why it took so long for some data to appear (up to two years delay).  The slow data is more trustworthy than the fast data.  Data from 2022 is now available in 2024.  National Data and Illinois Dept of Health data is likewise as slow as Cook County for many health statistics.  The reason data takes so long to be accurate is that it needs to be “cleaned” and analyzed.  He said there were many examples of the same individual going to multiple Cook County clinics with the same health concern, and CCH has to make sure they are not double or triple counting that same person.  In many cases the clinics are reporting data by fax or paper rather than entering it via a spreadsheet.
• Ways to access health data for CC, include the apps, Health Atlas and Shiny.
• Com. Anaya wanted to make sure CC and Chicago were synced better than they are now.  Dr. Hasbrouck said they meet on a regular basis and the data would be available on Health Atlas in the next 3 to six months.
• Com. Daley wanted to know why COVID results were available so much faster (week to week) while current data takes years.  Apparently COVID reporting was mandated while other data is not, by Illinois Dept of Health.  Daley also asked how citizens can learn about health stats, and Dr. Hasbrouck says they help produce newsletters and work with the 31 communities within Cook County.
• Com. Trevor asked about early warning signs like wastewater testing, and Hasbrouck said those and police data are gathered by their data contractor.
• Com. Aguilar was also concerned about data timeliness.

Observer - Amy Little