In 2009, the Obama Administration published the Open Data Directive, followed by related guidelines, research, and websites compiled at Data.gov. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by then-CTO Todd Park (former US CTO), had been particularly active in promoting open data initiatives — data availability, challenges, codeathons, and events such as Health Datapalooza™ — all falling under the rubric of the “Health Data Initiative.”
Due to the success and promise of the Initiative, Todd and others recognized the value in providing more structure, staffing, and resources to accelerate the availability and use of health data to drive innovations that improve health and health care. This expanded, more structured effort became the Health Data Consortium.
Formation of the Health Data Consortium
In May 2012, the Consortium ventured forth in our planning stages. Shortly afterwards, we began a regional affiliate program, with an initial group from Colorado, Louisiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Washington State. This enterprising group has organized monthly seminars, meetings, and regional events around the country.
The Health Data Consortium is now an established 501(c)(3) Public-Private Partnership based in Washington, DC. The Consortium brings together key health data stakeholders to promote critical public, commercial, and non-profit sector engagement to build the system-wide reform needed to help the nation tackle the enormous and complex challenge of harnessing health data.