But why should anyone outside those agencies care?
It’s not enough to acknowledge the importance of making decisions that are grounded in evidence. We all have a stake in a government where policy decisions and resource allocations are based on the best available evidence.
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Regulations, Tech and Culture Impact How Data Is Collected and Used
As a physician and a data scientist, I care deeply about ensuring that the data collected by the department about the health of the nation is being used to deliver services in the most impactful way possible and designed to achieve success.
To address the challenges, all stakeholders must understand the current regulatory, technical and cultural considerations, and that addressing these will require a long-term commitment.
HHS is also not unique in these opportunities. Sharing what we have learned is important to ensure that we continue to learn from our partners and stakeholders, and not duplicate efforts.
Understanding an organization’s data is about much more than data alone. It provides an unprecedented view into the ways in which an organization operates. For HHS, this knowledge will be key as we enter the next phase of our journey — developing a vision for what information sharing at HHS should be.
We demand more from our health care systems, and push them to deliver more value, transparency and evidence-based care. HHS and other agencies must move in the same direction. Using the information we collect to make decisions is essential. Creating the foundation that allows this to happen is the most vital part of this journey.