Using the Community of Practice Model for Public Health Organizational and Outcome Improvement: A Case Study of the Indicator Based Information System for Public Health Community of Practice (IBIS-PH CoP)

Abstract: Communities of practice (CoP) are increasingly considered as a very effective means of development and sharing of information. Utilizing a focus group methodology, this case study helps us understand how a CoP assists in improving public health services to the community and to the Public Health Information Network (PHIN). Additionally, this study provides a greater understanding of how public health focused communities of practice develop, operate and solve problems. Finally, this study documents the growth of the IBIS-PH CoP into a reliable and responsive network for the discovery, transfer, and leveraging of public health data and information in solving public health problems. Implications for public health practice and suggestions for future research are offered.