Vitalnet Health Data - Questions and Answers

What does EHDP do?

We provide Vitalnet, a comprehensive, integrated system for analyzing large complex health data sets, including birth, cancer, hospital discharge, mortality, pregnancy, ICD, and geographic data. A Vitalnet license includes all services needed to ensure project success. Different Vitalnet platforms support a wide range of user needs.

Vitalnet fulfills the role of many different kinds of software:

• Community assessment - Local health staff and citizens benefit
• Data access - Local or remote (modem / internet) access
• Data analysis - Easier and faster than alternatives
• Data dissemination - Makes data available to a wide audience
• Data linkage - Links population, event, ICD, geographic, etc
• Data mining - Discover hidden relationships in data
• Data warehouse - Stores and provides access to large data sets
• Decision support - Allows data to be used for decision-making
• Educational - Helps users learn right methods of analyzing data
• ICD database - Access to all ICD codes, and other coding systems
• Query - Easy-to-use interface, no programming or SQL needed
• Virtual data center - Comprehensive solution for state or nation

Does EHDP provide birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates?
Does EHDP figure out where or when individuals were born or died?

No. Contact your state health agency state health agency or other governmental body.

Does EHDP sell data?

Not currently. We sell Vitalnet software for linking, analyzing, and disseminating data. However, we will load into Vitalnet whatever data you need to analyze.

What kinds of data can Vitalnet systems include?

Vitalnet systems currently include the following data sets:

• Birth
• Cancer registry
• Divorce
• Induced Abortions
• Infectious disease
• Inpatient (hospital discharge)
• Marriage
• Multiple cause mortality
• Population
• Pregnancy outcome
• Underlying cause mortality

• Most versions include population data.
• Most versions include geographic data.
• ICD (CPT, DRG, etc.) data is included as needed.

Vitalnet can handle any complex record-level data set, including birth defects, census, emergency room, enrollment, HIV / AIDS, health manpower, immunizations, linked birth / death, Medicaid, Medicare, newborn screening, outpatient, poverty, reportable diseases, school, trauma registry, unemployment, and WIC. Please contact EHDP if you are interested in another data set.

Is there an upper age limit for population data, mortality data, etc?

It can be set to whatever you want. Additional age categories over 75 may be used, and are recommended, if population data are available.

How do the data get imported?

The process works as follows:

• You provide data files and accompanying documentation.
• EHDP carries out the actual data importing.
• EHDP works with you to resolve any data problems that may occur.
• EHPD keeps you fully informed of all data importing procedures.
• EHDP maintains full confidentiality for the data.
• EHDP complies with any required data use agreements.

Advantages of importing partnership include:

• Allows end user to have access to the data sooner.
• Lowers potential for error, increases data integrity.
• Lowers costs, since data importing included with license.
• You retain control of all decisions, timelines and standards.
• Allows EHDP to create media for installing to your computers.

If you need real-time access to data, we can arrange for you to do the importing, probably at additional cost.

What does Vitalnet look like?

VitalWeb Standard runs directly in a web browser. It directly makes maps and charts.

VitalWeb Wizard also runs directly in a web browser. It does the same maps, tables, and charts as VitalWeb Standard. Runs in two modes:

• Step-by-Step Mode - Step-by-Step sequence for making output.
• Jump-to-Page Mode - Lets user jump to any page for making choices.

VitalPro for DOS are VitalPro for Unix are character-oriented windowing interfaces. Keyboard-driven, they are fast and efficient. They give maximum analytical flexibility.

VitalPro for Windows (under development) is a native Windows application. It runs on any Windows PC or LAN. It combines the flexibility of VitalPro with the graphical output of VitalWeb.

• VitalWeb Standard Pictures
• VitalWeb Wizard Pictures
• VitalPro for DOS Pictures
• VitalPro for Unix Pictures
• VitalPro for Windows Pictures

Which web browsers are supported? (link to another page)

How would Vitalnet be customized for my needs?

Your Vitalnet system is customized to reflect parameter values used in your jurisdiction, such as age groups, race groups, and geographic areas. Variables not collected, rarely used, or of questionable validity (such as father's age, Kessner index, mother's smoking) may be excluded or included based on your decision. Text provided by your agency related to data analysis and local assistance is included in the help system. Other desired customizations will be added, usually at no additional cost.

Does Vitalnet meet CDC/NEDSS requirements? (link to another page)

Does Vitalnet meet disability requirements? (link to another page)

What is the Vitalnet underlying architecture? (link to another page)

Do Vitalnet systems do cell suppression?

Yes, you may select a suppression level for creating output that you want to distribute with suppressed cells, for example suppress any cell with 5 or fewer deaths. Your agency may request that the system be configured with a minimum cell suppression level of your choosing.

Do Vitalnet systems do leading causes of death?

Epigram uses the standard NCHS rankable cause list. The top 10 causes from this list are the leading causes of death.

Does Epigram calculate an age-adjusted rate for age 20-64?

It does not. Epigram is very useful for calculating age-adjusted rates. It is possible to program the capability to age-adjust within age groups, but it was felt that the additional complexity and potential confusion were not worth the occasional benefit. If needed, Vitalnet could quickly produce the age-specific rates and population numbers needed to set up a spreadsheet to do the calculations. Or, Epigram could produce a age-specific rate for age 20-64.

How do I print from Vitalnet?

The following print from whatever browser you use:

• VitalWeb Standard
• VitalWeb Wizard
• VitalPro for Windows

The following ask if you want to print, after viewing output.

• VitalPro for DOS
• VitalPro for Unix

Alternatively, Vitalnet saves your output to a text file for easy importing into your editor (such as WordPerfect or Word). Also, results may be saved to delimited or database formats, for use in other data display software.

How many ICD codes do Vitalnet systems include?

VitalPro for Unix, VitalPro for DOS, and VitalPro for Windows include the entire ICD system. Vitalnet will work with data coded to ICD-9 or ICD-10. There are three access methods:

• By entering the ICD codes, if known.
• Via branching menu system with all ICD codes and titles.
• Via menu with the most common categories and groupings.

VitalWeb Standard and VitalWeb Wizard allow selection from a menu with the most common categories and groupings.

What race groups are used?

It is up to the licensee. Any race categories may be used. The smallest race categories depend on the standard way that data are analyzed in your jurisdiction. During analysis, race categories may be combined as needed.

Does Vitalnet project trends into the future?

Yes. Trend analyses automatically include a "least-squares" analysis. The analysis produces a Y-intercept and slope, which may be used to draw the best line through the data and project into the future. Confidence intervals for the slope are also included, to decide if there is a significant trend.

Do Vitalnet systems make maps?

Yes. The Web Version (VitalWeb system) makes professionally formatted thematic maps that allow the user to quickly identify areas with high rates. The maps are in png (portable network graphics) format. In addition, Vitalnet can export your results to a database file (dBASE III format), which will easily read into Epi-Map, MapInfo, ArcView, and other GIS software. This allows you to overlay the data with other data (for example, environmental exposure data).

Can I download results data?

Yes. The following output formats are available for downloading results:

• Tab-delimited - For importing into spreadsheet software.
• dBASE III - For graphing, mapping, or data analysis software.
• ASCII Text - For importing into any word processor.
• HTML - For display in any browser.

Note: None of the record level data within Vitalnet databases can currently be accessed or downloaded. If you want that capability, it could be done.

What are the hardware requirements? (link to another page)

Can I monitor program usage?

Yes. The program automatically writes to an accounting file every time the software is used, and every time a table is produced, including basic information on the analysis. Periodically, you may produce reports from the accounting file, using any database or spreadsheet software.

How is Vitalnet licensed? (link to another page)

Why should I license Vitalnet software?

• Save large amounts of money in development / maintenance costs.
• Increase user productivity, saving time and money.
• Comprehensive, integrated data warehouse solution.
• Professional commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solution.
• Get needed services to make the system work.
• Get software infrastructure for virtual data center.
• Guaranteed data warehouse solution at cost-effective price.
• Provides local and remote access to needed data.
• Produces useful results and answers in seconds.
• Links and analyzes complex health-related data sets.
• Customized for the needs of your jurisdiction.
• Meets needs of both occasional and expert users.
• Users benefit from system with little or no training.
• License allows for use by unlimited number of users.
• Lets users explore and mine complex data sets.
• Guaranteed data integrity and operation.
• Online help, professional user guides.
• Output is ready-to-use and clearly documented.
• Makes better use of data for analysis and decision-making.