Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

Which of the following is a function of the CDC?

1. Certifying health information systems

2. Setting health IT standards

3. Conducting public health research

4. Regulating healthcare funding

The correct answer is: Conducting public health research

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is primarily focused on protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. One of its key functions is conducting public health research, which includes studying disease outbreaks, evaluating health measures, and providing data and information to inform health policies and practices. This research supports evidence-based decision-making, ultimately aiming to improve health outcomes on a community and national level. While the CDC may have some influence in areas related to health information systems and health IT standards, those functions are more directly associated with other agencies, like the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Similarly, regulating healthcare funding falls outside the CDC's primary mission, which is focused on public health rather than the financial aspects of healthcare delivery. Thus, the primary role of the CDC revolves around research and data collection to support public health initiatives, making conducting public health research the most accurate function related to the agency.