DPH task force outlines report-card/dashboard approach; members debate public-facing purpose and data access
February 19, 2026 | Department of Public Health, Departments and Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Connecticut
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The Department of Public Health told its maternal health task force it submitted a strategic plan to HRSA and is developing a two-dashboard approach for a maternal health report card: one internal dashboard for quality improvement and a separate public-facing report card aimed at the community.
"We submitted that for HRSA… We're awaiting their review for it," said Stephanie Ferguson, describing the strategic plan submission and noting task force feedback was incorporated into the plan.
Members questioned whether the public-facing purpose of the report card reflects the statutory language. "This came from our conversations with the legislators…they wanted to do the report card and have it be a tool that folks could use to make some informed decisions," Miriam (DPH) said, summarizing how legislators described the intent. Several clinicians and community representatives urged the group to examine the statutory text and to invite legislative advocates into a future conversation about purpose and use.
Participants raised practical concerns about what data can be shared publicly without identifying patients in a small state, and whether hospitals will provide the detailed electronic health record data that clinicians want for in-depth analysis. Dr. Canty asked specifically about access to records and whether the task force can get sufficiently granular measures (for example, timing from symptom onset to treatment) to connect clinical processes with lived experience.
DPH staff said some data already are reported to the agency, and technical/HIPAA experts will be necessary on the data subcommittee to advise on feasible, privacy-protecting measures. Staff also promised to circulate a chart of what data sources exist, what is routinely collected and the limitations of public reporting.
Next steps: DPH will share the submitted strategic plan materials, circulate a proposed subcommittee path forward and a sign-up survey, and convene subcommittee meetings to develop the metrics, data sources and the public-facing report card design.
"We submitted that for HRSA… We're awaiting their review for it," said Stephanie Ferguson, describing the strategic plan submission and noting task force feedback was incorporated into the plan.
Members questioned whether the public-facing purpose of the report card reflects the statutory language. "This came from our conversations with the legislators…they wanted to do the report card and have it be a tool that folks could use to make some informed decisions," Miriam (DPH) said, summarizing how legislators described the intent. Several clinicians and community representatives urged the group to examine the statutory text and to invite legislative advocates into a future conversation about purpose and use.
Participants raised practical concerns about what data can be shared publicly without identifying patients in a small state, and whether hospitals will provide the detailed electronic health record data that clinicians want for in-depth analysis. Dr. Canty asked specifically about access to records and whether the task force can get sufficiently granular measures (for example, timing from symptom onset to treatment) to connect clinical processes with lived experience.
DPH staff said some data already are reported to the agency, and technical/HIPAA experts will be necessary on the data subcommittee to advise on feasible, privacy-protecting measures. Staff also promised to circulate a chart of what data sources exist, what is routinely collected and the limitations of public reporting.
Next steps: DPH will share the submitted strategic plan materials, circulate a proposed subcommittee path forward and a sign-up survey, and convene subcommittee meetings to develop the metrics, data sources and the public-facing report card design.
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