Health data geeks from across the US have descended on Washington DC this week for what’s called Health Datapalooza. It’s a sort of Mecca for healthcare data sharing where health data geeks virtually hold hands and sing koombaya as they circle around blue buttons and hard drives full of granular health data. As someone who believes that health data liberacion is the right direction for healthcare, this is a great event and this year it seems to have really hit its stride.
One of the biggest advocates of using healthcare data for good is ONC’s own Farzad Mostashari. Never someone afraid to tweet or Retweet health data related topics, Farzad’s twitter account has been incredibly active during Health Datapalooza. So, I thought I’d use it to illustrate some of the messages Farzad found important enough to share from the event. Plus, I’ll throw in my commentary after each tweet as appropriate. (Note: when the tweet is from someone else it’s because Farzad retweeted it.)
@farzad_onc I have one unambiguous message – we want patients to be able to get and use their health data #bluebutton
— claudiawilliams (@claudiawilliams) June 3, 2013
If you want to stop reading here you could, because it’s the core of Farzad’s message. Although, if you want to go into depth on the topic, keep reading. At least Farzad has made clear that he’s going to use whatever methods he has available to make patients’ health data available.
@todd_park never bet against American entrepeneurs #hdpalooza
— Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_ONC) June 4, 2013
I’ve said this a few times recently as well. I have an extreme belief in the creativity and drive of entrepreneurs. We just need more of them to be able to do their work in healthcare.
RT @epoetter: Deven mcgraw makes a great point: Liberating data and protecting the privacy of data are not mutually exclusive #hdpalooza
— Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_ONC) June 4, 2013
Amen! The challenge is getting this message to consumers. If you tell them that their data will be kept private, but will be shared where appropriate to provide better care, every patient wants this to happen. In fact, most already assume this is what’s happening.
@tgoetz: govt action doesn’t necessarily make solving tough problems easier, but it makes it possible to solve more problems #hdpalooza
— Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_ONC) June 4, 2013
Healthcare problems are still a HUGE challenge. We don’t need any more barriers than we already have to overcome.
.@farzad_onc: Gov has a role in prepping #healthit market towards standardization and future payment models #hdpalooza
— RJMajma (@RJMajma) June 4, 2013
I wish the $36 billion in EHR incentive money would have been spent on standardization. We’d have had better results. I’m still not sure how we’re going to get to future payment models. Govt could play a role in it.
CMMI’s Mai Pham: no turnkey solutions, new payment models require fundamental delivery system transformation #hdpalooza
— Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_ONC) June 4, 2013
Speaking of changing payment models. Seems like government doesn’t know how to get their either. A fundamental delivery system transformation could be translated as impossible.
Don’t be afraid of what seems impossible – grit scales! @farzad_onc #HealthcareTransformer Summit #HDPalooza twitter.com/startuphealth/…
— StartUp Health (@startuphealth) June 4, 2013
The ladies will love Farzad in his bowtie. I love people who aren’t afraid of trying what seems impossible. Who in health IT is doing that today? I guess looking at the last tweet CMS and ONC are trying.
Per research by @elizacorp the #BlueButton logo is intuitive and 8% of population recognizes it #hdpalooza
— Lygeia Ricciardi (@Lygeia) June 4, 2013
I’m not sure if we should be proud or sad at the 8% number. Granted, it’s a lot of people that have to learn about it. Although, since many don’t care about their health data, 8% is pretty good.
RT @onc_healthit 25% of people polled have accessed their health data online. #hdpalooza (number up x 3 in 2 yrs)
— Matthew Holt (@boltyboy) June 4, 2013
I’ll be interested to see this number post-meaningful use stage 2. Doctors will be really encouraging their patients to get their health data so they can meet MU stage 2.
Abuse of the patent system is stifling innovation—and that’s why President Obama is cracking down on patent trolls: at.wh.gov/lI1U2
— The White House (@whitehouse) June 4, 2013
This isn’t actually from Health Datapalooza, but Farzad did just retweet it. I haven’t dug into Obama’s plan to deal with patent trolls, but I’m really glad more of a spotlight is being put on this challenging problem. In the case of software, I’m really against patents because as the tweet says they do stifle innovation. It’s ironic because they’re suppose to encourage innovation, but it’s just not the reality of how they’re being used.
I agree with the “don’t bet against American entrepreneurs” statement, but there isn’t much out there that stymies the spirit like government interference.
The fake demand for EHRs was created by the Gov incentives.
If EHRs truly…TRULY improved efficiency…TRULY had an ROI, docs would have been running to them on their own long ago.
That access to health data online number is misleading. What access is this? Scheduling? A “marketing” message in the portal?
Stage 2 will greatly increase these numbers because it requires an increase, yet the system will be “gamed” as it is now.
There is no doubt there are plenty of people who will access their records online…I would.
But there is a HUGE number of people who don’t/can’t/won’t…for whatever reason.
Certain specialties and rural areas have horrid access numbers, and these docs will have to be creative in getting folks onto their portal so the docs can make their Stage 2 goals.
I’m not poo-pooing here, just a splash of reality.