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The only healthcare IT event that brings you networking, exhibits, education sessions and keynotes in a virtual format kicks off this week, live from your computer.The seventh HIMSS Virtual Conference and Expo starts tomorrow with a schedule packed with education and commentary on health IT adoption, technology innovation, informatics and meaningful use.

How childbearing women are using social media is one of the topics that will be touched on in a breakout session at Health 2.0, which kicks off today in Washington. Amy Romano, a nurse-midwife that does online advocacy work for Lamaze International, a nonprofit organization that promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting, has about 10 minutes to speak at 2:45 pm today. And, what she says and learns at the conference could resonate with 4.2 million women - the number expected to give birth in the next year.

The Department of Health and Human Services will share its community and population health data with technology innovators and public health officials in the hope that they will use it to create new applications and tools to improve the health of Americans. HHS will also develop a "one-stop shop" Web site where the public can access community health data, including Medicare performance data and a variety of health indicators from across geographic regions.

Microsoft Bing and Google have launched separate health maps that aim at making community healthcare data more transparent for consumers so they can make healthier decisions. Microsoft Bing announced on June 1 that in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Institute of Medicine its health team would be participating in the Community Health Data Initiative, a national initiative to help consumers and communities get more value out of the nation's wealth of health data.