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Making a difference in how people find health information, today and into the future.

Putting People First

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Public Focus
Prudence Goforth, Director, Web Communications and New Media Division
Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Digital Strategy. The new buzzword. A fancy way (in government-speak) of saying we’re going to manage the Web strategically; cut loose our content, work better and put people first. We have a start, but we have miles to go, and we need you to help guide the way.

The concept rocks! But it demands serious change. We need your ideas. We need to ask your opinion. And we will listen.

HHS is fortunate. We are a leader in much of what the new Digital Strategy embraces. Click the four tabs above to see some of our initial efforts. From making cancer information available on smartphones to creating APIs that let people learn about influences on health in their communities; from creating one-stop shopping for critical information to opening our content to persons with disabilities, we are putting people first.

Beneath each tab, we ask you to tell us what you think, and to suggest next steps. Our goal is to provide public health information—any time, any place and on any device—so it’s available whenever and wherever you need it.

Your comments will be posted. People will be invited to post thoughts and ideas and you are encouraged to respond to others' comments. We want and need a dialogue. And then we’ll close the loop, explaining how your collective comments—along with the metrics we collect on user experience—have impacted and influenced our work.

Much more to come. Please return often and engage with us! We have a rare opportunity to create a new web paradigm—one that draws people in, even as we let our content out. Please let me know what you think as we expand this new way of doing our digital business.

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Comments

Submitted by Anonymous on
Reaching out to faith base organizations, community centers, Salvation army and housing authority to educate them on how to survive a disaster
Submitted by Anonymous on
YOU NEED TO BE LINKED INTO A NETWORK OF HEALTH MINISTRIES WITH MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL INNER CITY CHURCHES. [name withheld for privacy]
Submitted by Anonymous on
I am a senior. I have a business where I help individuals to find the most current, valid, reliable information on how to remain healthy, active and engaged by being their own health care activate. I use a droid. I would not turn to my phone when told I have a serious illness or need a new treatment course. I want to think about it and do research in many different areas before I make a decision on what course of treatment to take.
Submitted by Anonymous on
I'm sorry, but this sounds like so much management speak, the kind of thing you have to say, not because it is so revolutionary but more because a new manager is in charge and putting his mark on things. If you really want to speak clearly to your audience, the people, why call this "digital strategy," a term that clearly begs definition. Can't you just say clearly what you want to say? And BTW, I think the government web sites have generally been leaders in how web sites should be done. Truth be known, HHS has been at the forefront of this. HHS and other government agencies have applied the science of usability and testing and spread the word among themselves, unlike many commercial web sites that prefer razzle-dazzle. Your tone seems to imply that the government has been behind the curve and that just is not true.
Submitted by Anonymous on
An app should move people to do what they know they should. It should ask, "How many push-ups have you done today?" "Are you slumping in your chair? Get up and move every 20 minutes."
Submitted by Anonymous on
You needed information on Dental Insurance. In my opinion, dental costs are ludicrous! The dental insurance today covers xrays and cleaning. If you need a root canal or crown, then you have to take out a loan.
Submitted by Anonymous on
there are many agencies involved in digital health, from those specifically responsible for standards, those involved in HIPAA and HITECH, those involved in review of medical devices, those involved specifically in security, those involved in fraud and abuse case detection... Seems like it will be quite a chore to get all these agencies and programs to work together. especially since states also have programs involved.
Submitted by Anonymous on
Instead of focusing on medicating symptoms, provide information on how to cure the common ailments/diseases.
Submitted by Anonymous on
Right now we need concentration on ISAAC
Submitted by Anonymous on
Kudos to HHS for proactively embracing the digital age - it is very much appreciated! I greatly favor the "app" approach for access and for reporting Medicare fraud (and WASTE). I believe that report filings would significantly inrease if one could make a report "now" as opposed to having to waiting for computer access.

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