Healthcare Data Warehouse

What is a healthcare data warehouse?

A healthcare data warehouse is an enterprise data warehouse (EDW) optimized for business intelligence (BI) and analytics operations within the healthcare industry. The EDW is the most popular of the many types of data repositories that can support analytics initiatives depending on an organization’s objective.

What are common data warehouse models?

There are two major types of healthcare data warehouse models: the enterprise data model and the independent data mart model. The enterprise data model is a top-down approach that involves advanced determination of the information to be analyzed to create the “perfect” database from the beginning. The independent data mart model, in contrast, is a bottom-up approach that is used for as-needed analysis and allows for the ability to build a report quickly.

What are the big healthcare data sources?

Information in a healthcare data warehouse may be gathered from various sources. Some of the more common sources of healthcare data include electronic health records (EHRs), electronic medical records (EMRs), insurance claims, laboratory databases, and wearables.

Why are healthcare data warehouses important?

BI and analytics have the potential to inform and improve many sectors of the healthcare industry, from provider treatment plans to payor reimbursement strategies.

Advantages of a healthcare data warehouse include:

  • Efficient reporting of analytics
  • Access to evidence-based clinical insights
  • Access to claims data
  • Comprehensive resources for strategy planning
  • Analytical models to create effective and accurate treatment plans

Benefits of a data warehouse can often be seen in use cases such as personalizing care plans for patients, testing the effectiveness of screening methods and other preventative care measures, or tracking population health to help predict and manage instances of chronic illness.