A data warehouse architecture for DoD healthcare performance measurements

Abstract

In order to improve business practices and access to healthcare related information within the Department of Defense's Healthcare System, a Performance Metrics Driven Decision Support System (PMDSS) framework has been designed using Data Warehouse technology. As part of this performance metrics- driven framework, this thesis defines a methodology to design, develop, implement, and apply statistical analysis and data mining tools to a Data Warehouse of healthcare metrics. With the DoD healthcare system undergoing significant changes, the ability for senior healthcare officials to have access to a wide range of management information in one central data repository can greatly enhance their decision making capabilities. This framework can be used as the foundation for moving DoD healthcare into the 21st century. The major challenges involved in designing a data warehouse using this methodology are to identify the critical data needed to generate the data warehouse schema. The relevant data suggested in this thesis are healthcare performance metrics. Therefore, a team should be assembled that represents each functional business area to identify the critical performance metrics. Once the data has been identified and collected, it is straightforward to build a DSS for tracking performance metrics. The DSS consists of decision metrics, Geographical Information System (GIS), World-Wide Web and Online Analytical Process (OLAP) tools, Data Mining and statistics and forecasting components. Finally, it is very important to select the right people and proper tools, technology, and equipment to construct a corporate data warehouse architecture using a PMDSS.