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Structure, functions, and activities of a research support informatics section
Michael D Murray1, Faye E Smith, Joanne Fox
1Health Care Data & Epidemiology Section, Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, 1050 Wishard Boulevard RG-6, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. mmurray@regenstrief.org
Summary
A dedicated research data group supports investigators using the Regenstrief Medical Records System, providing crucial data for disease-specific and drug-related studies. This collaboration resulted in significant research funding and publications.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Medical Data Management
- Clinical Research Support
Background:
- The Regenstrief Medical Records System, established in 1972, houses over 350 million observations on two million patients.
- This extensive dataset serves as a vital resource for both prospective and retrospective research initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the function and impact of a data support group for researchers utilizing electronic medical record data.
- To quantify the activities and outcomes of data analysts supporting clinical investigations.
Main Methods:
- Data analysts provided support to investigators accessing the Regenstrief Medical Records System.
- Analyst activities, including data retrieval and analysis, were tracked from January 1, 1999, to July 31, 2002.
- Collaboration with the institutional review board ensured patient privacy and data confidentiality.
Main Results:
- Data analysts logged 47,559 work hours, primarily supporting physicians (54%).
- Key activities included data retrieval (36%) and analysis (25%), with a focus on disease-specific and drug-related research questions.
- Investigator support led to 117 grants and 139 peer-reviewed publications, with high value ratings for data analyst support.
Conclusions:
- A specialized data analyst group significantly facilitates medical research by providing access to comprehensive electronic medical record data.
- The group's work is instrumental in advancing disease-specific and drug-related research, guideline implementation, and clinical epidemiology.
- The collaboration between data analysts and investigators yields substantial research outcomes, including funding and publications, underscoring the value of dedicated data support.