October 8, 1998
The Honorable Donna E. Shalala
Secretary of Health and Human
Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Shalala:
On behalf of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), I am pleased to forward to you a concept paper, “Assuring A Health Dimension for the National Information Infrastructure.” This paper is the product of the NCVHS Work Group on the National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII). It presents a preliminary vision of a national health information strategy, including roles of multiple partners in the public and private sectors.
The Committee would like the HHS Data Council to consider this concept paper, identify priorities for HHS action, and encourage efforts by HHS agencies within their own domains and in collaboration with other relevant parties.
The NCVHS is already working with the Department on several of the individual components of a comprehensive health information infrastructure, and we know that other related work is underway within the Department. The NHII Work Group will be happy to assist with additional efforts and facilitate coordination among NCVHS activities.
Sincerely,
Don E. Detmer, M.D.
Chair
cc: Margaret Hamburg, M.D.