FROM THE FOUNDATION

Patient Health Data, Understood

Most patient health records today are hard for consumers to understand. CHCF asked high-end designers what a "human-centered" approach might look like.

The Health Datapalooza

Register now for the June 5-6 HDI Forum III in Washington, DC, on health innovation that will include renowned speakers, breakout sessions, and an apps expo replete with demos, developers, and designers.

Data Standards

Monday, February 14, 2011

HHS Launches Health Data Site To Boost Industry Innovations

HHS has launched a Web portal that allows health IT developers to access health data in an effort to bring about more health care innovations, Modern Healthcare reports.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that the Health Indicators Warehouse portal "provides a new public resource needed to fuel development of innovative IT applications" to improve health care.

Portal Details

Currently, the warehouse contains nearly 1,200 health indicators derived from 170 data sources (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 2/13). Health indicators are defined as characteristics that describe the health of a population. Such characteristics include:

  • Access to care;
  • Incidence of disease;
  • Life expectancy;
  • Mortality;
  • Risk factors; and
  • Socioeconomic conditions.

The Web portal is part of HHS' open-government initiative, which is designed to make federal operations more transparent (Mosquera, Government Health IT, 2/14).

Reader Comments:
  • 1
  • 02/14/2011
  • Anne Cuenca

This innovation is good. The Health Care reform with all the benefits/provisions named actually sounds very promising. Imagine, more benefits while premiums are also going to be reduced. But I can't help to wonder how we can afford all this? More taxes for the people or higher premiums?


Anne C
NY Health Insurer



Readers are also invited to send feedback to: ihb@chcf.org
Click to register for iHealthBeat