CRN Data Sources

CRN sites have a rich array of legacy data systems that date back many years. The table below summarizes data systems available from each participating CRN site. These data systems have been used for research for decades for both single and multi-site studies. The number of collaborating sites and the complexity of CRN research questions required the CRN to create a more efficient and standardized approach to data aggregation. The CRN chose to create a Virtual Data Warehouse (VDW), consisting of databases with a common set of standardized variables in each CRN site. The variability of the legacy data systems has made developing the VDW the CRN's most formidable challenge.

Year of Availability for Key Data Resources

Administrative Data
	GHC	GHS	HPHC	HPRF	HFHS	KPCO	KPG	KPH	KPNC	KPNW	KPSC	LHS	MCRF	MPCI
Automated medical record	2005	1995	1969	2004	1988	1997	2006	2004	2005P	1997	2004	N/A	1994	2006
Membership	1988	1999	1969	1990	1980	1992	1995	1958	1976	1982	1988	1996	1986	1987
Outside claims	1979	1999	1990	1990	1991	1993	1995	1995	1992	1986	1991	1996	1985	1987
Patient scheduling	1984	1997	N/A	1990	1988	1992	1995	1992	1987	1985	1993	N/A	1991	1987
Deaths	1972	N/A	1983	N/A	1990	1988	1995	1985	1970	1979	1988	N/A	1992P	N/A
Cost	1998	1999	1990	1990	1990	1997	1995	1995	1996	1998	1996	1999P	1985P	1988
Automated clinical data
Outpatient visits	1992	1996	1969P	1990	1988	1992	1995	1995	1995	1987	1993	1996	1991	1987
Hospitalizations	1979	1993	1990P	1990	1989	1991	1995	1988	1976	1965	1981	1996	1991	1987
Emergency room	1992	1993	1990P	1990	1988	1994	1995	1988	1995	1985	1993	1996	1991	1987
Pharmacy	1977	1985	1988P	1990	1992	1993	1995	1992	1994	1986	1992	1996	1992	1987
Laboratory	1988	1995	1969P	1994	1995	1994	1995	1988	1994	1993	1991	2000P	1985	1990
Long-term care	1992	N/A	1990P	1990	1995	1994	1995	1995	N/A	1986	1995	N/A	N/A	1999
Home health care	1992	N/A	1990P	1990	1995	1994	1995	1995	2002	1987	1995	N/A	N/A	1999
Radiology	1986	1994P	1969PT	1990T	1988P	1992	1995	1991	1997	1989	1994	N/A	1974	1996
Pathology	1996	1987P	1969PT	1990T	1988P	1994	1995	1995	1998	1970	N/A	N/A	1995	1996
Cancer registry	1974	1980	1997	N/A	1972	1987	2004	1973	1973	1960	1988	1999	1960	N/A

T = Text with search capability.
N/A = Information not available in a single comprehensive datafile.
P = Partial

GHC = Group Health Cooperative (Group Health Center for Health Studies)
GHS = Geisinger Health System (Geisinger Center for Health Research)
HPHC = Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention)
HPRF = HealthPartners (HealthPartners Research Foundation)
HFHS = Henry Ford Health System (Center for Health Services Research)
KPCO = Kaiser Permanente Colorado (Institute for Health Research)
KPG = Kaiser Permanente Georgia (Center for Health Research-Southeast)
KPH = Kaiser Permanente Hawaii (Center for Health Research-Hawaii)
KPNC = Kaiser Permanente Northern California (Division of Research)
KPNW = Kaiser Permanente Northwest (Center for Health Research-Northwest)
KPSC = Kaiser Permanente Southern California (Department of Research & Evaluation)
LCF = Lovelace Health System (Lovelace Clinic Foundation)
MCRF = Marshfield Clinic (Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation)
MPCI = Fallon Community Health Plan (Meyers Primary Care Institute)

Maintained by the Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences.
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