Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  1. What is PHQIX?
  2. How can I find the submission/information I'm looking for?  How do I search?
  3. What does the PHQIX offer public health experts?
  4. Who are the members of the Expert Panel?
  5. Who are the members of the User Group?
  6. What does social media have to do with public health?  Or PHQIX?
1 . What is PHQIX?

The Public Health Quality Improvement Exchange (PHQIX) is an online community designed to be a communication hub for public health professionals interested in learning and sharing information about quality improvement (QI) in public health.  PHQIX, created by RTI International and funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, launched in September of 2012. Our goal is to sustain national QI efforts by providing public health practitioners with a means for obtaining knowledge from the experience of their colleagues.  This community engagement will ensure that lessons learned are not limited solely to the individuals who executed a specific QI initiative.

2. How can I find the submission/information I'm looking for?  How do I search?

There are two ways to search through the QI initiative that are available in PHQIX. You may begin with a keyword search, or you may browse through all of the available submissions.

3. What does the PHQIX offer public health experts?

PHQIX.org offers public health experts the opportunity to review quality improvement initiatives that have taken place throughout the Unites States. By reviewing the application of QI methods and tools to public health, you’ll gain insight into the integration of QI in your own public health environment. You may also communicate with others interested in the same subject, and interact with QI Experts and discuss your thoughts on various QI activities.

4. Who are the members of the Expert Panel?

The PHQIX Expert Panel is comprised of representatives of entities, government, non-government, and academia, who have in-depth knowledge of QI in public health. Expert Panel members provide advice and counsel to QI initiative teams, help engage the public health community to participate in PHQIX, and review the QI submissions before they are published on PHQIX. The members of the Expert Panel are:

  • Les Beitsch
  • Chris Bujak
  • Jim Butler
  • Ololade (Lola) G. Coker
  • Cindan Gizzi
  • Grace Gorenflo
  • Louise Kent
  • Ty S. Kane
  • Kusuma Madamala
  • Joyce Marshall
  • Marni Mason
  • Gurleen Roberts

More information is available on the Expert Panel page.

5. Who are the members of the User Group?
  • Tamara Bannan, Public Health Institute
  • Karla Burress, Tazewell County Health Department
  • Janie Cambron, Kentucky Department for Public Health
  • Chelsey Chmelar, Kent County Health Department
  • Loriann DeMartini, The California Department of Public Health
  • Jaime Dircksen, Chicago Department of Public Health
  • Allison B. Dunn, Central Michigan District Health Department
  • Susan Floyd, Georgia Department of Public Health
  • Christina Harrington, Saginaw County Department of Public Health
  • April Harris, Three Rivers District Health Department
  • Carol Heier, Alabama Department of Public Health
  • Robert Hines, Houston Department of Health & Human Services
  • Philip Mason, Clackamas County Public Health Division
  • Anita Muneta, Navajo Nation Department of Health
  • Laura Sawney-Spencer, Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation department
  • Sara Warren, The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County
  • Dana Webb-Randall, Comanche County Health Department
  • Wanda Williams, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
6. What does social media have to do with public health?  Or PHQIX?

Social media platforms, or ‘social media’, offer the opportunity for interactive dialog and the creation, organization, and sharing of information.  While social media is not currently widely used among public health practitioners, it has the potential to help practitioners connect with each other, share lessons learned, and stay in touch with what is currently happening in the field. 

PHQIX has a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms. Just click on one of the icons on the bottom of the site.  If you already use any of these platforms, feel free to connect with us there.  PHQIX is a self-sufficient site, though, so if you’re not ready to venture onto other platforms, stay here and you won’t miss a beat!