The use and impacts of a corporate data warehouse: the case of the national health laboratory service

Abstract

The promotion of population health is a key concern of government authorities and various health institutions. With the prevalence in South Africa of communicable diseases like AIDS and Tuberculosis, the increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases like Cancer, Cardiovascular disease and Diabetes, as well as health care access, management and insurance issues, it is clear that the area of population health in South Africa is in need of urgent attention. Decisions about interventions that may impact on the health of the population tend to be far reaching and must be made with care. Basing these decisions on facts drawn from relevant data collected on various aspects of population health would be highly advantageous.

This study explores the potential and application of Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse technology for the population health space. Specifically, the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) was identified as the context for the study. The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) is responsible for laboratory tests done at public health institutions throughout South Africa, and as such keep records for 80% of the population, all of which are accessible from the NHLS Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) as a BI tool. The full impact of the NHLS CDW cannot be realised by simply providing the technology and hoping that it is well used. The CDW can only make a difference if the information it contains is utilised by people who base their decisions on it. An understanding of the issues and challenges experienced by these people in obtaining information from the CDW would facilitate positive outcomes which would in turn promote a positive impact on population health