Park: Federal health tools, data help docs achieve meaningful use

Applications that developers have created around data that the Health and Human Services Department has made available can also support providers engaging with their patients, according to Todd Park, HHS chief technology officer. Last week, HHS showcased nearly 50 innovations at the Health Data Initiative forum.

Among the meaningful use options menu set, providers are supposed to tee up education materials for their patients. MedlinePlus Connect has been declared by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT as a vehicle through which to do that.

MedlinePlus Connect is a free service of the National Library of Medicine that lets health organizations and health IT providers link patient portals and EHRs to MedlinePlus, an authoritative up-to-date health information resource for patients and health care providers.