Obama Launches Interactive Health Care Website

Seeking to, once again, blaze a new trail on the intersection of technology and politics, the Obama transition team launched a new website on Tuesday designed to generate discussion over health care reform.

The site, housed on the transition homepage -- change.gov -- is a blend of policy wonkery and cyber-community. It offers up health-care related questions to generate reader discussion. And, in an effort to spur a broader sense of responsibility and influence, the comment threads are rated, allowing users to develop a level of standing on the site.

This is new turf for a president-elect (obviously), but more noteworthy than the website itself is what the Obama team is signaling with its launch. It isn't coincidental that Obama is addressing health care in this type of forum. During the campaign, he was repeatedly critical of the closed nature of negotiations during the Clinton-era push for health care reform. Already, he seems to be trying to make the public a shareholder in the process.

It also now seems abundantly clear that the upcoming administration won't shy away from using various technological tools to pursue its political agenda. It's not hard at all to envision similar sites popping up in regards to environmental or education policy.

Comments

[Jumplab]

Welcome to the EDG! Obama's Medical Record Initiative Brought to Digital Life!

"EDG" The First Credit Card-Sized Video Player
EDG is a Medical Health Records tool that enables you to digitally access your medical records via a controllable and measurable platform!

Dallas, TX December 9, 2008. EDG (pronounced edge) is the digital video card designed to comply with President-Elect Obama"s technology initiative for digital medical records. The card provides the medical industry with a cost effective method to build and maintain an interactive relationship with patients, physicians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals.

Beyond its code-compliant design EDG is an affordable interactive information delivery tool that can be used as: a digital patient medical record and treatment starter kit, a patient portal to view brand and program updates, an in-store patient education platform for any HCP, a trade show giveaway. The end user views the content on a high-resolution LCD color screen with sound.

Click link below - DEMO: (Turn up volume.)
http://www.jumplab.com/showroom-edg-demo-pharma.php


Features/Options:
The EDG card is simple-to-use. It"s credit card sized frame enables the medical industry to download new data directly from a PC and viewing audio/video or automated slide shows on a 2" to 2.8" high resolution color screen. Jump Lab offers EDG, a fixed content device, and EDG Lightning, which comes with a content change loading service.


Jeannie McLaughlin
[e-mail]
972-983-4258
www.jumplab.com/edg

[4all]

Obama's transition team interactive healthcare website is no longer taking comments. Posted on the site is the following: "Commenting disabled
Further commenting on this blog post has been disabled by the blog admin."

I think a lot of people would like to comment. Does anyone know why the blog has been closed down?

[rmax53]

Not only will this keep citizens "engaged" in the process of government, but my hope is that it will also foil attempts by opposition forces to block real health care reform. With this kind of transparency, it will very difficult for Republicans to claim that their constituents don't want government making health care affordable.

[DaisyDooks]

Different topic - what's the deal with the blackberry? Is he being prevented from using the device? Why?

[DaisyDooks]

Message to the President-Elect, use Skype and use an alias only known to you and the few people you select.

[Mike4Obama]

Blackberry as all other cellular devices can be triangulated. Once the signal is picked up, the precise location of the President could be determined.

My guess is that is the reason.

[Tunghoy]

The other reason is that as President, he's subject to the Presidential Records Act. Everything he does and says has to be recorded and saved. On a mobile device, it's too easy for the user to delete data w/o a trace.

[kellygrrrl]

not only does he want to hire the Best and the Brightest ... he wants to hear all the ideas from all the Americans.
It is the complete antithesis of the W Administration
yay

[Figerre]

Why not use new tech to reach more people. i have no doubt that Americans want to be a part of their government, instead of being treated like little kids that only pay the bill but aren't 'smart enough' to know what should be done. As part of the Obama brigade during the campaign and election [previously Wes Clark and John Edwards before that] I know I feel like not only my opinion is being considered, but not necessarily miffed when it is ignored - at least I get to have my say.

[whatsgoingon]

We the govt subsidize the phramaceuticals just for them to make huge profits off of us and they hold onto their brands for years saying they don't profit if it goes generic. Med insurance has deals with the provider's most case's they agree to accept what the insurance companie's are willing to pay. If you pay out of pocket it cost's much more. Two different prices for the samething. There are people in Congress that are opposed to national health care but they don't mind paying for national health care for Iraq and afganistan under the war fund act, so when you wound an enemy they go get fixed up free to fight you all over again, nuts?

[TruthSucker]

It's scarry, an american persident standing behind his words.

[VikingQuest]

What words are those?

He made a website.

[Topsailsman]

Viqueen,
From the article above:
"During the campaign, he was repeatedly critical of the closed nature of negotiations during the Clinton-era push for health care reform. Already, he seems to be trying to make the public a shareholder in the process."
"An American president standing behind his words". You can argue whether it is enough, you can argue whether it will matter in the end, you can argue that this is window dressing, that all the deals will be done in the dark as usual. All that will be proved in the future. But he promised to open the process, and this opens the process. He is doing what he said he would do.

[Grunty1]

Scary isn't the word you are looking for, its refreshing.

[Independent voter]

A web site. Isn't that nice. Maybe he can mail out free band-aids with the next request for money.

[jashbowie]

Huh?

[Quick2822]

Bored now since the election is over, huh?

[Grunty1]

He's bitter that his Mavericks didn't get the destroy us

[Topsailsman]

Independent,
You have posted over 4000 times here, you must think it is worthwhile, and yet you dismiss Obama's effort to engage more people? You think making glib comments here is worthy, but sharing information about healthcare is a waste of time?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

A government for the people by the people is lost on his lard a$$.

[owendog]

It's brilliant because the more people are engaged in the process, the more likely they are to call or email their representative (Congress & Senate) to encourage them to get behind the health care, education or environmental initiative. Very smart! Go O

[DaisyDooks]

That's right! He's putting us to work, too. I guess our work didn't stop at the voting booth. Headed over to website now...

[Tunghoy]

This is awesome, and yes, I've already participated on that site. Our first president since the early days of the republic elected on a grassroots campaign is now starting to govern from the bottom up. Obama knows that Americans tend to be progressive on the issues, even if they don't always vote that way, so he is using that energy.

I wish Sen. Paul Wellstone were still around to see this. He'd be doing handstands on the White House lawn.

[PATina]

Thank you Preslident Elect Obama.

Now... those of us who have been giving you our opinions on what we think you should do... or whether we agree or disagree with what you are doing... can do so w/ your blessings !!!!

I just hope some of your supporters finally get it that you WANT our input.

[bbridges1962]

That is one of the most distressing things I remember about the Bush Administration. NOONE would listen or give a rat's behind what the people of America was thinking. All we could do is watch and grow ulcers. THANKS OBAMA! He is not going to be able to please everyone, but he is listening!
Now that is change I can live with!

[MossyOak]

He's asking for our input. No one has ever done this before that I recall. If you have two cents, now is the time to spend it.

[SeanGardner]

This is an awesome idea. Obama will need to fully explain to the country the competing health care initiatives that are being pushed through congress. This will ensure that there isn't a repeat of the deblacle in '93 and '94 where the GOP demogouged the debate on health care and took over congress in Nov. '94.

Obama is smart to do this. Good move on his part.

[Wiserone]

The Rethug's heads must really be spinning with each innovative approach Obama uses to govern. How do the Rethug's counter when most if not everything is becomming so transparent in Obama's presidency? Kind of hard to 'spin' i.e. lies against this adminstration when one can go to a Web site and find out what the real skivvy is. Isn't that what government is supposed to be? The Rethug's are going to be standing around for the next four years scratching their heads.

[bbridges1962]

McCaint is still learning to open a Yahoo email account.

[Grunty1]

He didn't have Yahoo in his cell for five years.
And is arms don't move, so he can't use Yahoo.
(*Insert more stupid excuses here*)