Read the Data Office Newsletter online: View as Webpage
APRIL 2019
A Message From Leadership
Greetings!

As a supplier of data for research, the Data Office team sometimes feels several degrees away from the frontline action of human research. However, in a critically important research focus like the opioid crisis , our team has the opportunity to feel deeply involved in the crusade from multiple angles:
 
  1. Empowering Researchers: The following types of data are available for IRB-approved research: clinical/phenotype data from the Electronic Health Record, including diagnoses, utilization of healthcare services, demographics, surgeries, and pharmacy fill data on medications prescribed outside. Michigan Medicine; genotype data; socioeconomic variables; and natural language processing output from dictated notes 
  2. Protecting patient confidentiality: Honest brokering services are available to maintain an encrypted crosswalk of patient identifiers, which enables the maximum ability to combine data types with a minimum risk of patient identifiability.
  3. Personal involvement: In addition to studying impactful ways to curb the opioid crisis, Michigan Medicine provides community-based opportunities for staff, such as the upcoming Take Back event this Saturday, April 27. 
 
Thanks to all of you in our research community for the life-saving discoveries you tackle on a daily basis, and thanks to Michigan-OPEN for the opportunity to take immediate action toward impacting the opioid crisis.

Questions about our services? Contact  us  with your ideas and questions. Here's to a great spring!

Sincerely,
Erin Kaleba, M.P.H.
Director, Data Office for Clinical & Translational Research
Reminders
  • Help us test a version of DataDirect that creates a de-identified dataset for your analyses. Previously, only limited datasets or fully identifiable data has been accessible with appropriate IRB approval. This new test version is available to both Level-1 or Level-2 users with this link. The team is always looking for feedback, so reach out anytime here!

  • Do you need standard language for manuscripts (method, reference sections, etc.) or grant proposals (resources or environment sections)? Contact us!

  • Have you recently submitted any manuscripts in which you received data from DataDirect, EMERSE, or our Data Office analysts? We want to know about it! Email us.
Available Data for Research
NEW! Access to Organ Transplant Data
The Data Office has recently gained access to the database of the Organ Transplant Information System (OTIS) , a repository of U-M solid organ transplant data. The data includes patient and donor information (including related donor labs), the transplant procedure, outpatient follow-ups, and outcomes. The database has all U-M solid organ transplant data from the 1990s to present day, and is refreshed monthly. With this new data source, the Data Office can now integrate solid organ transplant data with other clinical data for your custom request .

Questions about OTIS data ? Email Arina Bierdz at  abierdz@med.umich.edu .
Self-Serve Tools
Immunization Data Added to DataDirect
Additional sources of data for  Immunizations  have recently been added to  DataDirect .  Previously, data were only available if vaccines had been administered at a U-M facility or if there was an order placed for future immunizations in MiChart. Now, DataDirect users are able to download immunization data that includes historical data, plus specific information about immunizations administered at Michigan Medicine. These data elements can be selected in the Output View section of DataDirect under the Medications Administered filter. Note: This view does not contain antibody titers. If an antibody titer was performed at Michigan Medicine, this data can be found in the Labs section of DataDirect.
 
For questions about this addition, contact Arika Owens at arikao@umich.edu . For questions on using DataDirect, contact  OoR-DataDirect-Help@med.umich.edu
Data Privacy & Security
Safeguards for Accessing HIPAA-Regulated Data
U-M provides services that can meet the security, privacy, and compliance needs of our customers. However, individual departments are responsible for their environment once the service has been provisioned, including their applications, data content, virtual machines, access credentials, auditing of accesses to systems, and compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to their particular field or industry.
 
Appropriate safeguards should be used when accessing HIPAA-regulated data:
 
Permit/restrict access to protected health information regulated by HIPAA . Examples:
  • Security awareness training program for all staff
  • Procedures to regularly review records of information system activity (e.g. audit logs)
 
Limit access systems in which PHI is stored, as well as any physical media that contains or is used to access PHI . Examples:
  • Retaining facility maintenance records
  • Establishing policies for disposal of electronic PHI and the media on which it is stored

Limit access to PHI to appropriate individuals . Examples:
  • Automatic password lockout
  • Assigning uniqname or number to track user identity
  • Capturing and reviewing log information related to authentication
 
Get more information about sharing your data safely  here . More questions? Contact Devon Newman at  devonn@med.umich.edu .
Training & Events
Next Up: Data Office Lunch & Learn
Learn more about available data resources at U-M in the latest installment of the Data Office Lunch & Learn series:

  • Josh Kettley, Clinical Business Analyst for HITS COA Med Use Informatics/CDS, will look at Beacon, an oncology and hematology specialty tool.
  • Meng Tan, M.D., Professor Internal Medicine in U-M Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, will provide insight into the Diabetes Registry.

Wednesday, June 19
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
NCRC Building 10 - Research Auditorium
The mission of the  Data Office for Clinical & Translational Research is to foster the translation of data into research that improves clinical outcomes by bridging the gap between personal health data and clinical research. 
To better navigate the complexities of the U-M biomedical research enterprise, visit the Research Project Lifecycle . This interactive tool provides an overview of the resources available to you, not only within the Medical School Office of Research but also across the University of Michigan.