HHS and IOM launch Community Health Data Initiative

HHS and the Institute of Medicine have launched a national initiative to make community health data more accessible to the public through web based and other tools.  

The goals of the Community Health Data Initiative include:

• HHS will release greater amounts of health data in more usable formats
• Software developers can use the data to create new applications that will make health information more accessible to individuals and communities
• Communities and consumers will be able to use the tools to help with disease prevention, health promotion and to measure health care quality and performance

(Sources: AHA News Now, http://ahanews.com, June 2, 2010; Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.hhs.gov/open)