Groundbreaking report aims to further the use of open data in the UK healthcare system.
A report released by NHS England at the GovLab at the New York University aims to spread ideas on how to maximise the benefits of sharing data.
According to the NHS England national director for patients and information, Tim Kelsey, making data more accessible will allow patients to make more informed choices.
Groundbreaking report aims to further the use of open data in the UK healthcare system.
A report released by NHS England at the GovLab at the New York University aims to spread ideas on how to maximise the benefits of sharing data.
According to the NHS England national director for patients and information, Tim Kelsey, making data more accessible will allow patients to make more informed choices.
Evidence suggests that increasing patient access to healthcare records increases healthy behaviour and improves decision-making.
Kelsey said: "Giving researchers access to clinical data improves medical outcomes. Giving the public-at-large access to nationwide prescription data and hospital performance increases choice, empowerment and accountability."
The report will form a "blueprint" of how NHS England will advance evidence-based research into the benefits of open data and will help to guide investments and priorities.
The areas that the proposal focuses on are:
– The types of evidence required to measure the impact of open data
– The methods that are most effective for collecting evidence-based programs
– The ways in which the data can be used to differentiate and prioritise outcomes
– The steps required to create an setting where data is constantly used to benefit the healthcare system
Kelsey said: “To take our efforts to the next level, we are adopting a more systematic approach to the way we use and evaluate the effects of open data. To do so, we need methods to measure the impact of open data and to analyse the specific circumstances under which it is most (or least) effective. In other words, we require a roadmap that will guide us in our efforts to build on existing successes and applications.”
Kelsey said the report is a “milestone in our efforts to ensure that NHS England will be at forefront of this global transformation”.
The full report is available at GovLab.
