We are creating a shared data resource to provide policy makers, researchers, community advocates and public health leaders insight into the health of the Chicago community, and identify opportunities to improve care. We specifically focused on developing tools which balanced the need for anonymity of patients and providers, while preserving uniqueness of patients. We created a stand alone Java application to perform standardized data cleaning and pre-processing, hashing of patient identifiers to remove all PHI using the HIPAA compliant SHA-512 algorithm, and measure effective match rate. Initial analysis indicates a 92-99% match rate using this approach as compared with an operational master patient index.
To date, we have IRB approvals and data extractions underway at six large healthcare institutions throughout Chicago and parallel development of the data visualization platform. We are extracting diagnoses, medications, and laboratory tests for all patients seen at participating institutions for linking with publicly available citywide data. We have received funding from the Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Investigators:
Abel Kho, MD, MS, Northwestern University
John Cashy, PhD, Northwestern University
Bala Hota, MD, MPH, John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County
Shannon Sims, MD, PhD, Rush University Medical Center
William Galanter, MD, PhD, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
David Meltzer, MD, University of Chicago
Erin Kaleba, MPH, Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services