title: Extracting a statistical data matrix from electronic patient records.
abstract: This paper describes the processing and transformation of medical data from a clinical database to a statistical data matrix. Precise extraction and linking tools must be available for the desired data to be processed for statistical purposes. We show that flexible mechanisms are required for the different types of users, such as physicians and statisticians. In our retrieval tools we use logical queries based on operands and operators. The paper describes the method and appliance of the operators with which the desired matrix is created through a process of selection and linking. Examples with a Kaplan-Meier function and time-dependent covariables demonstrate how our model is useful for different user groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Computer Sciences, University of Vienna, General Hospital, Spitalgasse 23, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. walter.gall@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinzl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sachs
mesh_terms: D001699:Biometry; D003628:Database Management Systems; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software