CTSC Clinical Data Warehouse

Data Warehouse Contents

Current Offerings

Currently we offer three years of TriCore data representing all labs on all UNM patients. By the end of 2009 this is anticipated to expand to include seven years of data, or records from 2002 to the present.

TriCore lab data is structured according to the five main tables shown at left (click to enlarge). Most fields are in a text data type.

For a detailed listing of test names, please visit the online Test Directory maintained by Tricore.

For a detailed worksheet on how to indicate what data you need from the data available, please download the Data Specification Worksheet. Tips on how to complete it are available in the next section on Constructing Your Data Specifications. An intake meeting with the Laurie McPherson may also be of assistance to you in defining your exact needs.

 

Future Planned Offerings

IDX Billing Data

Arrangements are currently underway to create linkages with additional data derived from professional services billing for UNM Medical Group (UNMMG). For qualifying researchers with approved protocols, this data offers a rich source of information on patient demographics, diagnoses, procedures, and charges. It is easily linked to the TriCore data for even richer data sets.

This data will be available via a partnership of the CTSC with the HSC's Information Solutions unit.

 

Veteran's Administration Data

For investigators willing to undertake the process of acquiring credentials with the Veterans Administration (VA), the data warehouse of the New Mexico Veteran's Administration Health Care System (NMVAHCS) can also be made available. The necessary credentials are a “Without Compensation” appointment (WOC).

Additional restrictions apply to VA data, and no mechanisms are yet available to merge it with TriCore or UNM data. However as a free-standing data set it is exceptionally full and complete.

Patient Recruitment

Another exciting area of planned expansion is an “Honest Broker” service. This will provide recruitment services to enroll identified patients who have been pre-selected to meet specific criteria for clinical trials. Data warehouse resources can offer unbiased, randomized selection from large populations.

In accordance with guidelines of the Human Research Review Committee (HRRC), pre-approval would be sought by the honest broker from the patients primary care providers, and patients so approved are then solicited under the provider’s signature. Patients responding affirmatively are compiled by the honest broker and their information forwarded to the researcher.

Roll-out of this service to HSC investigators is contingent upon award of CTSC support from the National Institutes of Health. Since this is work intensive process, patient recruitment services will include a fee which investigators should budget for in advance.

 

For assistance in defining exactly what data you need, a meeting with the BMI Specialist is recommended. The next section on Constructing Your Data Specification will get you started.