Big Data Governance

Definition

The framework of policies, procedures, standards, and controls that ensure data is managed as a valuable asset. In the context of Health Informatics, it addresses the challenges of volume, velocity, and variety inherent in big-data to ensure security, privacy, and utility.

Core Challenges

  • Balancing data accessibility for research/analysis with strict regulatory compliance (gdpr, hipaa).
  • Managing metadata quality and lineage across heterogeneous sources.
  • Integrating siloed health records into unified regional systems.

Regional Health Information Networks (RHINs)

RHINs facilitate the exchange of health information across organizations. Effective governance is critical for:

  • Interoperability standards enforcement.
  • Trust establishment among participating institutions.
  • Preventing data misuse while enabling population health insights.

Key Case Study: China’s RHIN Framework

Research highlights specific strategies for advancing RHINs through structured governance models: