Rhonda M. Medows, MD, Commissioner	Sonny Perdue, Governor

DCH Awarded Computerworld Honors Program 2009 Laureate Medal for Georgiahealthinfo.gov Web site

ATLANTA–Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) received a 2009 Laureate Medal from International Data Group’s (IDG) Computerworld Honors Award Program for its exceptional use of information technology to benefit society.  DCH’s health care consumer transparency Web site, georgiahealthinfo.gov, was recognized as a Laureate in the government category.  The Laureates came from 10 different industries and from all over the world.

“Each Laureate selected for this honor understands the importance of using one’s resources and technical prowess to benefit one’s fellow man,” said Bob Carrigan, Chairman of the Computerworld Honors program Chairman’s Committee and President, IDG Communications.

Georgiahealthinfo.gov is designed to make accessing health information faster and easier for consumers.  The Web site features cost and quality comparison data for hospitals, cost data for common outpatient procedures and health educational tools that provide information about a variety of health-related topics. 

“Georgiahealthinfo.gov provides people with easy-to-access cutting edge technology and information that enable them to make the right health care decisions for themselves and their loved ones,” said Dr. Rhonda Medows, DCH Commissioner.  “We have always believed in the Web site’s value to the state’s citizens and we are honored that Computerworld has judged our site as being worthy of a Laureate medallion.”

Georgiahealthinfo.gov launched in December 2008, and since then, the site has been visited more than 161,000 times.

To view and learn more, visit  georgiahealthinfo.gov.

About the Computerworld Honors Program

Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation.   In its 21st year, Computerworld Honors is the longest running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use information technology to benefit society.  Each year, the program’s Chairmen's Committee, a group of 100 Chairmen/CEOs of global technology companies, nominates individuals and organizations around the world whose visionary application of information technology promotes positive social and economic progress.   Nominations are evaluated by an independent board of CIO-level judges who select Laureates, Finalists and award recipients, in 10 industry-related categories, to be honored at the Laureate Medal Ceremony.

This year’s ceremony and accompanying Gala Awards Evening took place on June 1, 2009, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.  The technology achievements honored by this program are preserved and protected in national archives, and in over 350 universities, museums and research institutions throughout the world.   Additional information about the program and a Global Archive of past Laureate case studies and oral histories can be found at the Computerworld Honors Program Web site: www.cwhonors.org.