Performance Snapshots is an authoritative online resource about health system performance developed under a grant from The Commonwealth Fund to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Program on Health Outcomes.

The Snapshots build on a series of chartbooks published by The Commonwealth Fund and draw on an ongoing review of the research literature. A project team led by Sheila Leatherman, research professor at the University of North Carolina, and Douglas McCarthy, president of Issues Research, Inc., selected a representative range of the best available data. These data are presented through graphs and narratives that tell the story of the health system's problems, successes, and opportunities to improve health care for all Americans.

Data are drawn from a variety of sources, including studies published in academic journals and reports by government agencies and private foundations. Nationally representative data are used whenever possible. New topics will be added on a periodic basis.

We welcome your feedback on ways to improve Performance Snapshots and suggestions on data to include in future updates. Please e-mail them to snapshots@cmwf.org