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Constituent Society Corner |
APHEO: News from the World of Epidemiology
Core Competencies for Epidemiologists
Strengthening the public health work force in Canada through the establishment of core competencies for public health professionals has been a focus of activity since the public health tragedies of Walkerton and SARS. Establishing discipline-specific competencies for public health epidemiologists in Ontario was identified as a key action to be undertaken by APHEO during the 2004 APHEO strategic planning process.
To that end, APHEO contracted University of Toronto researchers to develop a set of core competencies for public health epidemiologists in Ontario. The work was supported by funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The project was completed in five steps, and produced five associated documents:
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Development of a "framework" for core competencies for public health epidemiologists in Ontario drawing on existing frameworks and relevant literature;
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Identification of initial draft competencies using semi-structured interviews with key informants;
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Validation of initial competencies through a survey of APHEO members and other key stakeholders;
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Drafting a working paper of core competencies for public health epidemiologists to stimulate discussion;
Holding a consensus-building workshop of APHEO members to establish a proposed set of competencies for the association to adopt or modify.
The Core Competencies for Public Health Epidemiologists were discussed at a Pan-Canadian Public Health Epidemiologists meeting, organized by the Public Health Agency of Canada, in Toronto on March 7-8, 2007.
Pan-Canadian Public Health Epidemiologists Meeting
On March 7-8, 2007, the Public Health Agency of Canada sponsored a Pan-Canadian Epidemiologist conference in Toronto. This first pan-Canadian meeting of front line public health epidemiologists brought together people from across Canada to:
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Identify discipline-specific competencies for front line public health epidemiologists which will lead the profession into the future;
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Set the groundwork for a national network for front line public health epidemiologists;
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Explore different strategies for front line public health epidemiologists to "become connected".
Over 60 participants representing diverse public health roles, work settings, and jurisdictions across Canada were involved in the meeting. Most are front line epidemiologists, although several other perspectives were represented. The report of this meeting is located on the APHEO website.
EpiData
EpiData is a free software program for data entry and analysis of quantitative data. The EpiData Association, which created the software, was formed in 1999 and is based in Denmark. EpiData is widely used by organizations and individuals to create and analyze large amounts of data. The World Health Organization (WHO) uses EpiData in its STEPS method of collecting epidemiological, medical, and public health data, for biostatistics, and for other quantitative-based projects. Epicentre, the research wing of Médecins Sans Frontières, uses EpiData to manage data from its international research studies and field epidemiology studies.
APHEO has been awarded a 3-year grant from Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with the Danish EpiData group of consultants, to evaluate the use of EpiData software in the field and to redevelop the program to meet the needs of epidemiologists and case investigators involved in outbreak investigation and management. APHEO has established an expert panel from among the membership to provide epidemiological expertise and advice for the Denmark group, to coordinate the collaboration process, to coordinate and implement pilot testing, and to conduct a program evaluation. This project is in its initial stages and further information will be available on the website as the project progresses.
Conference
The 15th Annual APHEO Conference, Explaining the Miracle: Statistics and Analysis in Public Health, was held October 14-16, 2007 in Ottawa. The goal of the conference was to further professional excellence and to advance the practice of epidemiology in the area of statistics and analysis. There was a wide range of presentations given by excellent speakers focusing on such tools as cluster analysis, spatial statistics, complex survey analysis, standardization, longitudinal analysis, as well as tips on how to maximize the use of iPHIS and the Provincial Health Planning Database. As part of the keynote address, Dr. George Pasut discussed public health renewal and the resultant transition of the role(s) of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario)
ASPHI-O is an organization of environmental and public health professionals committed to remaining a strong and influential voice in the management of local public health programs in Ontario and the development and implementation of effective programs and policies, which promote health, prevent disease and protect the health of the community. Our Mission is "Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Management".
ASPHIO has a number of standing committees which support stakeholders of environmental public health programs and issues, including: Food Safety, Health Hazard Prevention and Management (including vector-borne diseases), Safe Water, Emergency Preparedness, Rabies Prevention and Control, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, private sewage disposal (Ontario Building Code), and Smoke-free Ontario Act enforcement.
Ad hoc committees are also established by the ASPHIO Executive as required (e.g., Common Approaches for Farmers' Markets and Special Events, Common Approaches for Inspection of Street Food Vending Carts, both as a result of amendments to the Ontario Food Premises regulation).
ASPHIO members also represent the Association on a number of initiatives, including: Interagency Council on Food Safety,
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario Branch) Liaison, Technical Advisory Committee on Environmental Microbiology, alPHa Board of Directors; alPHa Advocacy Committee; Ryerson Liaison;
Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation (OCCHA) Board of Directors; and OPHA Board of Directors.
ASPHIO has taken an active role in providing input into the development of the Ontario Public Health Standards and protocols and is currently reviewing the new standards and protocols and assessing the resource implications.
ASPHIO is also in the process of creating and developing a collaboration community on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's PublicHealthOntario.ca web portal.
The legislative responsibility for the Small Drinking Water Systems (SDWS) program is being transferred from the Ministry of the Environment to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, under the Health System Improvements Act , 2007. ASPHIO is working with the MOHLTC, and their consultant alPHa, on the information and information technology needs assessment related to this program.
For further information on these and other ASPHIO projects please contact the ASPHIO representative on the OPHA Board of Directors.
There are currently ten Constituent Societies of OPHA. Their representatives sit on the OPHA Board of Directors, and are elected by their respective societies.
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