How is clinical data characterized compared to traditional business data in a DW?
Answer
High volume, extreme heterogeneity, and inherent messiness
Healthcare data presents unique challenges that necessitated the specialized CDW structure rather than relying on a general Data Warehouse. Clinical information is characterized by massive volume and extreme heterogeneity, stemming from various sources like structured lab results, coded diagnoses, and highly unstructured physician narratives. This inherent 'messiness,' including varying coding standards across departments, requires advanced integration and semantic understanding that traditional, highly structured business data typically does not demand.
Related Questions
What defined the Data Warehouse concept according to Bill Inmon?Which approach did Ralph Kimball champion in data warehousing methodologies?What is the primary operational focus of a Clinical Data Repository (CDR)?What is the stated primary goal of a Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW)?How is clinical data characterized compared to traditional business data in a DW?Which time horizon is associated with a Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW) analysis?What is identified as the key challenge for a Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW) specifically?What specific integration hurdle necessitated the development of the CDW structure?When did the realization of needing a specialized analytical structure emerge?What factor determines the value realization of a CDW built on foundational architecture?What specific dimension requires extreme precision when modeling clinical events in a CDW?