ABOUT THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE DATA
The Center for Healthcare Data (CHCD) at the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston houses an interdisciplinary team of investigators who conduct research on healthcare services, quality, cost, payment and policy. The CHCD maintains many large datasets that can be used for approved research purposes.
The CHCD has a staff of biostatisticians, analysts, and investigators who can work with clinical investigators in exploring the dataset and performing analyses.
COVID-19 DATA
Researchers from UT System working on projects housed at a UT institution may access de-identified individual-level data for persons who, since February 2, 2020 have been diagnosed with a respiratory infection, including those with COVID-19 (definite and probable). The dataset includes all eligible persons regardless of payer type, including self-pay (uninsured).
CHARACTERSTICS OF THE DATASET
The data derive from inpatient and ambulatory care electronic health records (EHRs). All pertinent available data on patients within the cohort are provided back to January 2007. New patients are added to the cohort at each data refresh. The data are updated at least monthly through December 2020. Age, race, other demographics, co-morbid conditions, laboratory tests, vital signs, other clinical measurements, and detailed information on procedures, medications, and administrative information.
Persons under 20 years of age account for over 5 % of enrollees and those over age 65 represent almost 30 % of subjects.
The dataset is continually updated and growing rapidly. By the end of July 2020, it included a total of 1.4 million subjects, about 13% of whom (n ~ 200,000) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Of those carrying a COVID-19 diagnosis, about half were confirmed by a positive test result. Within the initial six months, there were over 600,000 emergency room encounters and about 400,000 hospitalizations.
The dataset was collected by Optum, a unit of UnitedHealth Group that provides multiple services, including health plans, pharmacy benefits, data and analytics. The data derive from Optum’s U.S.-based network of participating health care providers. By negotiation with Optum, the dataset is potentially accessible to any qualified investigator within the University of Texas System. It can be used in conjunction with grants, but as required by Optum, not for pharmaceutical industry-funded projects.
The fee for access depends on the amount of data needed and depends on the time, effort, and storage required.
The primary contacts are the CHCD’s co-directors:
- Trudy Millard Krause, DrPH at Trudy.M.Krause@uth.tmc.edu or (713) 500-9190
- Cecilia Ganduglia Cazaban, MD, DrPH at Cecilia.M.GandugliaCazaban@uth.tmc.edu or (713) 500-9486
In addition, interested parties are invited to contact: Raymond S. Greenberg, MD, PhD at Raymond.S.Greenberg@uth.tmc.edu or (512) 878-7799
UT HEALTH CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE DATA
The CHCD datasets cover healthcare utilization for more than 65% of the Texas population.