Catherine Staes, Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, Department of Biomedical Informatics, was appointed to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Committee on Occupational Information and Electronic Health Records. The committee conducted a study to examine the rationale and feasibility of incorporating work history information into patient electronic health records. NIOSH seeks to ensure meaningful use of occupational information in electronic health records by 2015. The committee prepared a Letter Report with findings and recommendations that address significance, current environment, technical issues, and recommended next steps. The findings are available in: IOM (Institute of Medicine). (2011). Incorporating Occupational Information in Electronic Health Records: Letter Report. Washington DC: The National Academies Press.
Catherine J. Staes earned her MPH from John Hopkins University and her PhD in Medical Informatics from the University of Utah. Dr. Staes is an assistant professor in the University of Utah's Department of Biomedical Informatics.
Her expertise involves system analysis, decision support, and standards in order to improve communication between public health and clinical entities, which assists clinicians and laboratories in making decisions that meet public health goals. This involves understanding the current processes for communicating public health guidelines and designing systems and knowledge that can be implemented in the clinical setting. Dr. Staes' focus also includes developing and delivering curriculum about public health informatics and standards to graduate informatics students and to the clinical and public health workforce.