Pacien

Pacien is a term used in health informatics and policy discussions to denote a patient-centric data governance framework that emphasizes patient control over personal health information and the interoperable sharing of data across care settings. While not a formal standard, Pacien functions as a conceptual model in which individuals guide who can access their records, for what purposes, and under what conditions.

The Pacien concept centers on patient ownership of data, consent-driven sharing, and transparent auditing. It envisions modular components such as a patient portal, consent management, data mediation, and privacy-preserving analytics, all designed to operate with established interoperability standards and identifiers.

In practice, Pacien has appeared in academic papers and pilots exploring personal health records, data portability, and ethically bounded data reuse. Proponents argue that it can improve continuity of care, accelerate research with proper safeguards, and reduce fragmentation of health information. Critics point to the complexity of consent workflows, the need for robust security, and the challenge of aligning multiple jurisdictions' privacy laws.

As a theoretical framework, Pacien serves as a reference point for evaluating and designing patient-centered information ecosystems. It is related to broader efforts such as personal health records, health information exchanges, and rights-based data governance.