HHS Healthy People 2020 Plan Involves IT To Promote Health

On Thursday, HHS officials announced the Healthy People 2020 goals, which encourage the use of health IT to improve the health of communities, Government Health IT reports.

Part of the goals’ aim is to facilitate the exchange of patient data among health care and public health professionals (Mosquera, Government Health IT, 12/2).

Other Healthy People 2020 Goals

Other health goals announced by health officials as part of Healthy People 2020 include:

• Cutting adult obesity rates from 34% to 31%;
• Reducing heart disease and stroke deaths by 20%;
• Cutting cancer deaths by 10%;
• Reducing new diabetes cases by 10%; and 
• Reducing cases of food poisoning from E. coli, salmonella and other microbes.

The program features nearly 600 goals, which health officials say need to be prioritized according to specific individuals and communities (Neergaard, AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/1).

myHealthyPeople Challenge

Officials also launched the myHealthyPeople challenge to encourage innovation in the development of online applications for professionals who work with state- and community-level health data (Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 12/2). Developers should submit apps directed at the stakeholders who will work to promote health and prevent disease, according to a description of the challenge.

Applications are being accepted through March 7, 2011, and officials are expected to announce winners later that month (LaFave Grace, Modern Healthcare, 12/2).

Source: iHealthBeat