HEDIS and BOT-HEAD: Data and design justice with Dr. Rachel Harrington from NCQA

In this episode of Tech it to the Limit, Dr. Rachel Harrington (NCQA) joins hosts Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson to unpack how digital tools are reshaping healthcare—and why equity must be part of the equation. From fixing biased data to evolving HEDIS and designing with communities, it’s a sharp look at the future of human-centered, tech-powered care.

Key Takeaways

• Start with the right data: If we don’t ask the right questions and reflect real diversity, we’re guessing, not solving.
• Co-create with communities: Don’t design for people—design with them to build solutions that actually work.
• Go beyond broad stats: Break down the data to see what different groups really need.
• Tackle the root causes: Health isn’t just about doctors—it’s about housing, food, transport, and more.
• Act, don’t just assess: Finding problems is easy. Solving them takes real action.

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Welcome to Tech it to the Limit
• [00:01:43] Insights from the Mayo Clinic AI Summit
• [00:04:05] Segment spotlight – “Guess That Quality Data Acronym”:
• [00:11:05] Conversation with Dr. Rachel Harrington, NCQA: advancing equity through data and measurement
• [00:26:15] Collaborating across sectors: the importance of community-based partnerships
• [00:27:12] Stratification and the role of data transparency in identifying quality gaps
• [00:27:44] Transitioning to HEDIS: why equity must be embedded in quality measurement
• [00:29:15] The impact of race and ethnicity stratification in performance metrics
• [00:32:13] Aligning incentives across payers, providers, and systems for greater accountability
• [00:39:12] Designing for equity: avoiding bias in digital health tools through inclusive development
• [00:42:57] A call to action: how digital health leaders can make equity core to their strategy
• [00:46:02] Final reflections and key insights

Our Guest

Dr. Rachel Harrington is the Assistant Vice President of Health Equity at the NCQA, where she leads the Equity and HEDIS initiative. With a Ph.D. in pharmacy systems and a background in regulatory science, health economics, and public policy, Rachel has a wealth of experience in healthcare data, quality improvement, and social determinants of health. Her work ensures that healthcare systems deliver equitable, effective care for all communities.

Resources

Dr. Rachel Harrington

• NCQA
• Dr. Rachel Harrington
• We Ask Because We Care campaign

Tech It To The Limit Podcast

• Website
• Apple Podcast