Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Readers Choice: Most visited 'Open Data' sources of health information


The global 'Open Data' movement continues to grow and strengthen. Each month, the number of new 'open data' web sites and resources increases. Based on the number of hits by Open Health News (OHN) readers on links to 'open data' sources of health information, the following are their top choices:  
  • CDC Data & Statistics – The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have opened access to a wide range of data for public health purposes. 
  • HCUP Databases - Databases on healthcare cost & utilization in the U.S. available from the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ). 
  • Health.Data.Gov – The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has provided open access to a wide range of health information & data sets that are generated and/or held by the U.S. Government. 
  • WHO Global Health Observatory - Provides data and analyses on global health issues and priorities.


'Open Data' can be defined as selected data that should be made freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other excessive control mechanisms.

Other notable 'Open Data' sources of health information

* Also, check out the COSI 'Open' Health web site.

Which is your favorite source of 'open data' health information? Do you have another 'open data' resource you would recommend to readers?


A core principle of the Open Government Plan developed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is that the government can help trigger enormous public good by implementing the idea of “government as platform,” supplying ever greater amounts of high quality health data collected by the government to the public and actively marketing the availability of this data. The expectation is that individuals and organizations in the private sector may then find innovative ways to turn this data into useful applications, products, and services.   -   See HHS Community Health Data Initiative.


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