Developing a Research and Evaluation Program of Open Data

National Health Service (NHS) England, the national health care provider for England, is developing an open data strategy for its health and social care programs. NHS England partnered with NYU’s Governance Lab (GovLab) and the Capstone team to capture the value proposition of open data, measuring the impact of open data on various health care outcomes. To achieve this, the Capstone team conducted background research and literature reviews on the health care outcomes most likely to be affected: accountability, choice, outcomes, efficiency, customer service, and economic development. The Capstone team identified and assessed existing NHS open data streams, interviewed thought leaders in open data and informatics, and compiled current case studies of open data in health care. This information was synthesized into a GovLab report to provide NHS England a thorough understanding of its own open data status, the value proposition of expanding its open data strategy, and a conceptual frame that allows for measuring the impact of open data.