Modernizing Data Systems in Environmental Public Health

Modernizing Data Systems in Environmental Public Health: A Blueprint for Action

Texas: SHARP Platform Implementation

To solve this issue, Texas built SHARP as a unified, cloud-based data warehouse using Snowflake. Data pathways now extract health information from various program-specific systems, validate and cleanse the data, and load the data into Snowflake, where it can be accessed through SQL queries or familiar analytics tools. According to users, the new system has freed up approximately 35 % of manual data extraction time for other responsibilities. The platform integrates data across programs (e.g., linking lab reports, case in- vestigations, immunizations, providers, and vital statistics). It supports visualiza- tion and analytic tools such as SAS, Power BI, R Studio, and Tableau. Outcomes and Benefits Access to cross-program data has improved data-informed decision-making, and external researchers can securely query de-identified datasets. Through a single repository with standardized data and automated processing, SHARP reduces manual workload. It allows public health staff to focus on interpreting data, producing dashboards, reports, and maps, and making more timely deci - sions. The platform has become foundational for Texas’s future data modern- ization efforts. Lessons Learned Texas’s modernization experience demonstrates the value of automating data ingestion and standardizing formats to reduce manual processing and free up staff time. By consolidating disparate program data into a Snowflake-based warehouse, SHARP enables users to view relationships across laboratory re - ports, case investigations, immunizations, providers, and vital statistics. It sup- ports familiar tools such as SAS, Power BI, R Studio, and Tableau to minimize training barriers and encourage adoption. This unified approach, combined with a multilevel security model that tightly controls access to sensitive health in - formation, underscores the importance of automation, data standardization, us - er-centric design, and strong governance for public health data modernization.

The Texas Department of State Health Services implemented the State Health Analytics and Reporting Platform (SHARP)—a cloud-native health data ware- house using Snowflake and integrated with SAS Viya and Tableau—for agen- cy-wide data consolidation. It serves as a central environment for accessing, visualizing, and analyzing datasets across surveillance, immunization, vital sta - tistics, and EPH programs. SHARP enables internal staff to conduct SQL queries, build dashboards, and perform predictive modeling from a shared platform. Challenges and Solutions Texas’s modernization effort tackled the burden of manual data extraction and disparate data sources. Before SHARP was introduced, staff spent large por- tions of their day manually pulling and processing data. Feedback from SHARP users noted that manual processes previously consumed approximately 40 % of staff time.