Key Definitions
State Size
The states are divided in small, medium and large categories based on population sizes provided in 2019 census data. Small states have <2 million residents, medium states 2-6 million and large states >6 million.
Needed Capacity
Needed capacity is the number of additional epidemiologists reported by states needed to effectively deliver the Essential Public Health Services.
Ideal Capacity
Ideal capacity is the current number of epidemiologists plus the number of epidemiologists needed to deliver the Essential Public Health Services (Ideal = current + needed)
Epidemiologist
An epidemiologist is an “investigator who studies the occurrence of disease or other health related conditions or events in defined populations.” (Last, 2001) Epidemiologists in this enumeration include all those employed by the state who are either federal assignees, contract employees, fellows or state employees assigned to work at a local or regional level.
Reference: Last, J. M. (Ed.) (2001). A Dictionary of Epidemiology (4 ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Current Capacity
Current capacity reflects the number of epidemiologists currently employed by state health departments at the time the ECA was fielded.