Last week I attended the “The Health Data Palooza” at the Convention Center.  I guess you are wondering what a health datapalooza is, right?  Since it was my first time attending so, let me give you a bit of history about the Health Data Initiative (HDI):

“The Health Data Initiative (HDI), originally launched in 2010 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the Community Health Data Initiative, is a public-private collaboration that encourages innovators to utilize health data to develop applications to raise awareness of health and health system performance and spark community action to improve health.” (HDI 2012 website)

2012 Health Datapalooza Roundup

1.  I have never been a fan of Bon Jovi but after learning about his organization “Soul Foundation” and his recent innovative “Project REACH mobile app challenge” I am now a huge fan! Project REACH mobile app provides real-time access for caregivers and the homeless which can empower anyone to assist those in need!

2.  Men dominate the health IT field.  How do we get more women interested in programming and computer science? One way to improve interest among youth in general would be to invite local youth from the District to check out the “Apps Expo” they would have loved it! #S.T.E.M.

3.  HDI and open source #healthdata could create a plethora of jobs for DC residents.  Why wasn’t the Mayor’s office at the conference?  The mission of HDI falls in line with the Mayors “One City One Hire” program utilizing partnerships among the public and private sector.  It seems like another big missed opportunity for the District and District residents.

4.  My favorite companies that I spoke with at the Apps Expo, aside from the Census Bureau (I love data!) were:

• Cake Health- I liked their brand.  It was fresh, simple, didn’t look “techie” and didn’t give me anxiety when thinking about healthcare costs.  As a current Medicaid recipient it is easy for me to feel good about my healthcare costs.  Why?  Because I rarely see the bill.  When I was subjected to United Healthcare well that is different story.  I am sure Cake Health would have been a dream come true!
• Clinicast- “CliniCast can help case managers work smarter by identifying patients in the top 20% of cost and recommending individualized interventions to help manage their risk.” (Clinicast website) If you have experienced any of my twitter rants about being “case managed” in DC, you would understand why this company makes sense.  I would love to find some data on the actual numbers of case managed DC residents.  I know I am one, however, I am like the taming of the shrew version.  In the District some agencies, like the mental health system, require you to utilize a case manager even when you don’t need the services.  Clinicast could improve client services and save the District money.
• The state of New York rocks!  Check out the New York eHealth Collaborative sponsored “New York Digital Health Accelerator” program.  Why doesn’t DC have opportunities through the Government like this?  Maybe they should hire innovators to seek innovators?

5.  The conference had a #hashtag; every conference should have a hashtag.

In conclusion the datapoolooza was awesome!  I think that the public health community needs to reach out and understand that most people don’t understand what public health means and how it affects their day-to-day life.  Police, Fire, rats, garbage, jobs, education, politics are all public health.  I am hopeful that the District will value innovation and provide advanced technical skills to residents in order to be relevant and competitive in 2012 and the future.

To view more photographs taken during the conference click here