APRIL 30th, 2013 — The Vermont Department of Health recently released a new real-time online performance dashboard built on the concepts of Results-Based Accountability™ in connection with its “Healthy Vermonters 2020” plan. In the release of a tool dubbed “Healthy Vermonters Toolkit” the Department of Health provides information on population measures and performance indicators that Vermont will continue to hinge its progress on. Continuously named as the healthiest state in the United States since 2008, the state government acknowledges that only through consistent tracking towards goals using indicators can Vermont continue this legacy.
The Healthy Vermonters 2020 plan focuses on achieving the goal of “setting, measuring, and working to achieve our shared goals for improving public health” by tracking the health status of Vermont residents through more than 100 goals that are detailed in 21 separate focus areas. These goals range from maternal and infant health to HIV, AIDS, and STDs to include a wide, but focused range of factors to track progress towards better public health. The introduction of a dashboard system helps to connect the public directly with the progress of these goals and hold the Vermont government accountable in their strategy towards a healthier Vermont.
The dashboard is a shining example of Results-Based Accountability™ at work to improve and sustain the lives of children and families through the combined use of indicators, data, and accountability. We are excited to see the indicators put to use with the backing of RBA concepts as Vermont embarks on its mission for a healthier state by 2020.
Learn more about this effort and current efforts in our Vermont Department of Health Scorecard Case Study.
