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PROMIS® Health Organization

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The PROMIS Health Organization (PHO) is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance patient-centered health care by stewarding the science of the PROMIS family of patient-reported outcome measures, building global capacity for its meaningful use, and advocating for patient-reported outcomes as essential to clinical care, research, health system decision-making, and population health.

PHO Structure

  • Led by a Board of Directors
  • Members from around the globe
  • Membership is open to all!

PHO Activities

The PHO offers guidance and education to PROMIS users. This includes:

PROMIS International 

The PHO identifies, coordinates, and promotes best practices to develop, translate, validate, and use PROMIS measures across countries.

This includes overseeing the PROMIS National Centers (PNCs).

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PROMIS National Centers (PNCs)

PNCs exist in Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. There are informational resources about PROMIS in their countries. They provide education and information on translations.

PHO and HealthMeasures

The PHO and HealthMeasures team at Northwestern University work collaboratively. In fact, many HealthMeasures scientists are members of the PHO. PHO designees participate in HealthMeasures science and operational meetings. Together, both groups aim to advance the science of health outcomes by promoting the widespread use of PROMIS in research and clinical practice. They offer guidance and education to new and experienced PROMIS users. 

PHO 

  • International professional membership organization open to all
  • Members include early career and experienced researchers, clinicians, students, health system administrators, health policy experts, representatives of the technology and pharmaceutical industries, and government
  • Offers training and education on PROMIS basics, implementation, and analysis via webinars and in-person events
  • Hosts annual International PHO Conference
  • PHO International Committee oversees and coordinates development, translation, validation, and utilization of PROMIS measures across countries
  • Delegates responsibilities to the HealthMeasures Team at Northwestern University

HealthMeasures Team at Northwestern University 

  • Collaborative team of measurement scientists, psychometricians, implementation scientists, technologists, research staff, and client support staff (see About Us) 
  • Originally funded by the National Institutes of Health; now supported under a cost-recovery business model with no profit motivation
  • Conducts day-to-day operations of PROMIS on behalf of the PHO including curation and dissemination of measures
  • Licenses software for digital administration of PROMIS measures
  • Oversees all translation activity on behalf of the PHO
  • Executes translation licenses on behalf of the PHO
  • Scope is broader than PROMIS: includes Neuro-QoL, ASCQ-Me, and NIH Toolbox

For more information about the PHO, becoming a member, and other PROMIS opportunities, visit the PROMIS Health Organization’s website.

Last updated: September 14, 2026