Use of a data warehouse at an academic medical center for clinical pathology quality improvement, education, and research.
BACKGROUND
Pathology data contained within the electronic health record (EHR), and laboratory information system (LIS) of hospitals represents a potentially powerful resource to improve clinical care. However, existing reporting tools within commercial EHR and LIS software may not be able to efficiently and rapidly mine data for quality improvement and research applications.


METHODS
We present experience using a data warehouse produced collaboratively between an academic medical center and a private company. The data warehouse contains data from the EHR, LIS, admission/discharge/transfer system, and billing records and can be accessed using a self-service data access tool known as Starmaker. The Starmaker software allows users to use complex Boolean logic, include and exclude rules, unit conversion and reference scaling, and value aggregation using a straightforward visual interface. More complex queries can be achieved by users with experience with Structured Query Language. Queries can use biomedical ontologies such as Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine.


RESULTS
We present examples of successful searches using Starmaker, falling mostly in the realm of microbiology and clinical chemistry/toxicology. The searches were ones that were either very difficult or basically infeasible using reporting tools within the EHR and LIS used in the medical center. One of the main strengths of Starmaker searches is rapid results, with typical searches covering 5 years taking only 1-2 min. A "Run Count" feature quickly outputs the number of cases meeting criteria, allowing for refinement of searches before downloading patient-identifiable data. The Starmaker tool is available to pathology residents and fellows, with some using this tool for quality improvement and scholarly projects.


CONCLUSIONS
A data warehouse has significant potential for improving utilization of clinical pathology testing. Software that can access data warehouse using a straightforward visual interface can be incorporated into pathology training programs.
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Matthew D
MD
Krasowski
Park Street Solutions, Naperville, IL, USA.
Andy
A
Schriever
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Gagan
G
Mathur
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
John L
JL
Blau
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Stephanie L
SL
Stauffer
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Bradley A
BA
Ford
Clinical laboratory information system; data mining; electronic health records; immunoassays; medical informatics; systematized nomenclature of medicine