Make the leading health indicators a tool for communicating with communities. Mike Rodrian, MD Chief, Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Encourages HHS to retain a focus on the Health Status Indicators from CDC, while improving geographic breakdowns, local ability for analysis, and our ability to track county specific trends. To implement leading health indicators, we will need to improve state and local data, conduct surveys to evaluate the success of Healthy People 2010, and train local professionals. Essential dilemma is whether to maintain traditional measures and improve links or to focus on new data and measures. Develop a high quality and useful set that includes determinants relevant across the life span.
Communication is an essential component of achieving leading health indicators.