U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service: The Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives
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NPIRS CLINICAL DATA MART

Services Overview

Working closely with the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS), the NPIRS program develops custom web-based reporting applications to report data in formats that can reveal trends in defined medical issues e.g. Suicide Attempts, measure success in addressing critical needs and meeting program and IHS goals.

By providing quantifiable data, these online applications increase OCPS effectiveness. These capabilities also help OCPS to meet Director Roubideaux's four IHS priorities:

  1. By making specific tribal health information available, tribal relationships are strengthened;
  2. Providing data in ways that measures program effectiveness makes it possible to productively change and reform programs within the IHS;
  3. Providing information that can lead to increased access and better quality care; and
  4. Providing secure access to information, so there is greater transparency within the IHS.

NPIRS application development includes displaying aggregated data in a number of ways, including:

  1. Graphs, Charts, and Data Grids
  2. National, Regional (Area), and Facility level information
  3. Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual data both by Fiscal and GPRA years
  4. By Age Group and/or Gender

Working closely with program staff, NPIRS helps to define the desired results, functionality and content. We then map the data available within the National Data Warehouse that will provide that information. Because we have developed numerous applications, we can leverage and re-use templates and features previously developed. We also shorten the development timeline by iterativly defining and refining the application requirements as we develop it. This makes it easier for customers to understand what can be achieved and eliminates a long project definition step. By using an iterative process - that is developing and refining the application through a number of versions (v. 1, v. 2, etc) - more precise and more comprehensive data can be extracted and reports enhanced.

In addition to developing online applications and working with the Joint Commission to support hospital accreditation activities, the NPIRS also provides a data quality assessment program with the goal of improving the quality, accuracy and timeliness of data used by programs and applications.

In these assessments, health information data is examined from its origin in the patient chart, through data entry and electronic records, to data export for validity, timeliness, and completeness. NPIRS can then recommend changes for data improvement.

With better information available, it is possible for OCPS to set program and resource priorities, clarify trends, identify "cluster" events, secure needed funding, and enrich overall understanding of Native American Health Issues.