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Data

Data

The Schaeffer Institute is charged with producing relevant, rigorous research of consequence. The Institute identifies opportunities to increase value in healthcare delivery, improve performance of healthcare markets, improve health outcomes and reduce disparities, and foster better pharmaceutical policy and regulation through data-drive, interdisciplinary research. Below are key data points from recent research in each of these areas.

The Schaeffer Institute’s dedication to assembling the nation’s best researchers and developing a robust data infrastructure is what feeds its ability to produce research with consequence.

This advanced information resource and computing environment is overseen by an expert team that provides skills, training and support for the Institute’s research projects. The Data Core’s security measures include an air-gapped workstation (physically isolated from the Internet) and HIPAA-compliant systems with 24/7 monitoring to ensure protection of private health data.

The Data Core also develops data packages to help researchers. Available on GitHub, the set of programs identifies the presence of chronic conditions in administrative health data using validated and standardized algorithms. A video and paper about the data package are available here.

Data Core and Microsimulation Teams

The dedicated data core and microsimulation teams within the Schaeffer Center are experts in the methods and programming necessary to rigorously analyze big data. The team includes programmers, microsimulation modelers, analysts, and a data resource administrator who each bring unique backgrounds in a variety of fields including statistics and microeconometric theory. These researchers also provide support to faculty, students, and fellows on specific projects.

The Data Core acquires, processes, maintains, and makes available key data sets for Center projects. The Data Core is responsible for all data management and oversight activities, including data acquisition and updating, preparation, integration, management, quality control, security, and archiving. Data Core staff provide expertise, including in specification of key variables and in interpretation and comparability across projects.

In addition to the Data Core, the Schaeffer Center has developed an economic demographic microsimulation model to effectively model future trends in health and longevity and answer salient questions in health policy.