People

NIH, CDC sign global pact on data sharing

Several funders of public health research are coming closer to overcoming barriers to information sharing with a new global agreement, supporters say.

People

HHS doesn't have plan for IT pandemic surveillance, GAO says

A 2006 law requires the Health and Human Services Department to produce a strategic plan for monitoring public health electronically in near-real time, but the department hasn't done so, according to GAO.

People

CDC starts online surveillance of blood transfusion events

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is collecting data about the after effects of blood transfusions as part of a new application of its Internet-based National Healthcare Safety Network.

People

National Cancer Institute seeks tools for electronic data management

The National Cancer Institute expects to issue a request for proposals next month to identify a contractor that can expand use of electronic data.

Cybersecurity

DHS biosurveillance center not getting enough data, GAO says

The DHS National Biosurveillance Integration Center is relying on Internet data at the moment because it has not been able to establish partnerships with federal agencies to get federal data, the GAO said in a new report.

People

FDA readies new data systems for drug safety

The Food and Drug Administration will expand its tracking of drug safety once the drugs enter the marketplace, according to a new report.

Digital Government

The news of 2009: From buzz to bust

Some stories christened by the Buzz of Week in 2009 have proven less buzz-worthy than others.

People

Disease surveillance through a murky crystal ball

Critics say too many systems are collecting data on disease outbreaks with little coordination among them.

People

CDC expands flu-tracking efforts

The H1N1 swine flu virus has created an urgent need for public health authorities to track where and how quickly the illness is spreading.

People

New IT tools to track swine flu

Just in time for flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have begun using new tools to track seasonal and H1N1 flu and educate the public about treatment.

People

Health IT vendor sets up CDC with free flu tracking network

Health IT vendor Cerner Corp. has set up a national flu tracking network in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control.

Modernization

FDA plans electronic filing for some safety reports

Proposed rules announced today would require that all mandatory post market reporting of adverse effects for drugs and medical devices be filed electronically, either through a gateway, a Web portal under development, or on disk or tape.

People

CIO: CDC preparing for contract worth up to $2 billion

The CDC's CIO outlines plans for the agency's largest IT contract, which is also the first Multiple Award Contract.

People

Health IT 'meaningful use' framework proposed

The federal Health IT Policy Committee today began considering a detailed framework for defining "meaningful use" of health IT through 2015.

Modernization

Health IT needs more functionality, CIO says

Theresa Cullen, CIO of the Indian Health Service, said health IT leaders should create more functionality in their systems, including the ability to track diseases without current lag times.

People

Committee studies public health, research

The federal advisory group on health information technology considers adding public health and research data needs to its requirements for electronic health records.

Cybersecurity

Panel says it will approve millions more for swine flu

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said the group will approve spending more than $2 billion to deal with swine flu.

Modernization

HHS uses widgets and live blogging

A new report by the Health and Human Services Department highlights its uses of widgets and other tools to improve transparency and service.

People

Flu funding could go to states

Some of the $1.5 billion that the Obama administration has requested to fight the H1N1 virus – the cause of the swine flu outbreak — could go to state public health disease tracking and monitoring programs.

People

Official: Some flu money would go to states

The president's request for $1.5 billion to deal with the swine flu outbreak includes money to help states respond to the disease, an HHS official said.