HCIN 540 / Dataset Analysis


​              In the Introduction to Health Care Information Management course, we learned basic skills in management of health care databases through laboratory activities. The database labs gave us hands on training using Microsoft Excel to extract, organize, display, and analyze data. Through in class assignments, we gained an understanding of how to apply database skills to solve common health care problems, support clinical/management decision making, and assist in outcomes management in the clinical setting. Training included formatting/editing spreadsheets and workbooks, importing text files and databases, using formulas for data analysis, and creating visual charts.
 
              With the knowledge gained through the lab, we then constructed a data analysis paper that addressed a specific health care topic. Using the U.S. Government open data website, we selected a unique data set that represents health care data to analyze for our report. The data set needed to have enough information to allow us to demonstrate skills learned from the data management lab, describe the problem the data addresses, and perform a full data analysis with write up.
 
              I wanted to choose a data set that reflected current health concerns prevalent in our country. Because smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, I decided to conduct my report using the Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity, and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) dataset. The SAMMEC presents a report of the average number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking related diseases in comparison to the average number of overall deaths by state and gender from 2005 – 2009. This comprehensive data not only allowed me to identify which states are most affected by smoking-attributable mortality (SAM) in relation to their overall death rates, but also investigate the reasons as to why certain states are more susceptible to SAM.
 
              This assignment fulfills the Health Science Knowledge and Skills outcomes in that it required graduate level writing skills, knowledge of health care terminology and the United States health care delivery system, and understanding of chronic disease drivers for the health care system.