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Jason Walonoski edited this page Mar 2, 2022 · 1 revision

Project Name

SyntheaTM

Project Description

Synthea is an open-source synthetic patient generator that models the medical history of synthetic patients and produces synthetic health data free from cost, privacy, and security restrictions.

Project Owner

The MITRE Corporation

Project Website

https://synthetichealth.github.io/synthea/

Project Category

  • Open-Source Software
  • Open Data

Public Repository

https://github.com/synthetichealth/synthea

Is it relevant to one of the Sustainable Development Goals?

Yes. Goal 3. Good Health and Well-Being. Goal 4. Quality Education.

The “Good Health and Well-Being” goal highlights that a lack of data hinders understanding of the true impacts of disease. Synthea provides open-source software and freely available synthetic open data sets formatted to international standards. These resources lower the barrier of entry for innovators across the globe to build data-centric health solutions and digital health solutions. Using Synthea, health innovators can accelerate their work safely, securely, and publicly without accessing real data.

The “Quality Education” goal highlights inclusive and equitable lifelong learning opportunities. Innovators also can leverage Synthea to strengthen their health information technology knowledge and skills for future jobs, research, and/or entrepreneurship opportunities to advance health and well-being.

Links to Evidence: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmed.2020.100007 https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocx079 https://aspe.hhs.gov/synthetic-health-data-generation-engine-accelerate-patient-centered-outcomes-research

Does it use an appropriate open license?

Yes. The open-source software is licensed under the Apache-2.0 license. The synthetic open data is public domain.

Software License: https://github.com/synthetichealth/synthea/blob/master/LICENSE

Data: https://synthea.mitre.org/downloads

Is ownership clearly defined?

Yes.

The project copyright is here: https://github.com/synthetichealth/synthea#license Synthea trademark: https://trademarks.justia.com/876/86/synthea-87686582.html https://www.trademarkelite.com/uk/trademark/trademark-detail/UK00917900570/SYNTHEA

Does the license of libraries/dependencies undermine the openness of the project?

No. Additional license notices are here: https://github.com/synthetichealth/synthea/blob/master/NOTICE

Is there documentation?

Yes. https://github.com/synthetichealth/synthea/wiki

Does this project collect or use non-personally identifiable information (non-PII) data/ content?

No.

Does the project adhere to privacy and other applicable international and domestic laws?

Yes. Because the project generates purely synthetic data, based only on published aggregate statistics and clinical guidelines rather than individual-level health data sets, it does not and cannot ever contain any personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI). In this sense, the synthetic data is privacy and risk-free, so it is automatically compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.

Does the project adhere to standards and best practices?

Standards?

Yes.

Best Practices?

Yes. This project adheres to the Principles of Digital Development https://digitalprinciples.org

Does the project do no harm?

On the whole, does this project take steps to ensure that it anticipates, prevents and does no harm?

Yes. The foundational principle of the project—synthetic health data as a safe and useful alternative to real health data—is designed to prevent harm to individuals’ privacy and security.

Does this project collect or store personally identifiable information (PII) data?

No.

Does this project collect, store or distribute content?

Yes. The project distributes synthetic health data here: https://synthea.mitre.org/downloads The project does not collect or store information.

Does this project facilitate interactions with or between users or contributors?

Yes. The project allows for users to participate via standard open-source practices. The project has an Issues board, a Discussion board, and a mailing list. The project is governed by a code of conduct.

What country was this project developed in?

If it was developed across multiple countries, please list.

  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • Others / Unknown

The project list of contributors is here: https://github.com/synthetichealth/synthea/graphs/contributors

What countries is this project actively deployed in?

If it serves multiple countries, please list or has no target deployment indicate no country-focus here.

  • United States
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Others / Unknown

SyntheticMass data users, last 364 days:

  1. United States
  2. India
  3. United Kingdom
  4. Canada
  5. Germany
  6. France
  7. Australia
  8. China
  9. Netherlands
  10. Spain
  11. Israel
  12. Italy
  13. South Korea
  14. Indonesia
  15. Singapore
  16. Ireland
  17. Japan
  18. Brazil
  19. Pakistan
  20. Russia
  21. Turkey
  22. Austria
  23. Sweden
  24. Norway
  25. Vietnam
  26. Switzerland
  27. Philippines
  28. Belgium
  29. Ukraine
  30. Greece
  31. Taiwan
  32. Thailand
  33. Hong Kong
  34. United Arab Emirates
  35. Finland
  36. New Zealand
  37. Argentina
  38. Portugal
  39. Egypt
  40. Poland
  41. Denmark
  42. Mexico
  43. Hungary
  44. South Africa
  45. Colombia
  46. Chile
  47. Malaysia
  48. Nepal
  49. Romania
  50. Belarus
  51. Czechia
  52. Saudi Arabia
  53. Bangladesh
  54. Kenya
  55. Sri Lanka
  56. Morocco
  57. Serbia
  58. Jordan
  59. Nigeria
  60. Peru
  61. Armenia
  62. Croatia
  63. Slovakia
  64. Tunisia
  65. Costa Rica
  66. Algeria
  67. Estonia
  68. Lebanon
  69. Lithuania
  70. Luxembourg
  71. Bosnia & Herzegovina
  72. Bahrain
  73. Iraq
  74. Panama
  75. Uruguay
  76. Bulgaria
  77. Brunei
  78. Bolivia
  79. Botswana
  80. Ghana
  81. Iran
  82. Cambodia
  83. Montenegro
  84. North Macedonia
  85. Martinique
  86. Malawi
  87. Slovenia
  88. Uganda
  89. Uzbekistan
  90. Venezuela
  91. Burkina Faso
  92. Burundi
  93. Cyprus
  94. Ecuador
  95. Georgia
  96. Jamaica
  97. Kyrgyzstan
  98. Libya
  99. Moldova
  100. Macao
  101. Malta
  102. Oman
  103. Puerto Rico
  104. Palestine
  105. Qatar
  106. Rwanda
  107. El Salvador
  108. Syria
  109. Trinidad & Tobago
  110. Tanzania
  111. Kosovo
  112. Yemen
  113. Zambia
  114. Zimbabwe
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