Research Analytics - Enterprise Data Warehouse

The Northwestern Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse (NMEDW) is a single, comprehensive and integrated repository of all clinical and research data sources on the campus to facilitate research, clinical quality, healthcare operations and medical education.

Our Mission

The Research Analytics team is dedicated to supporting faculty, student, and staff researchers by providing high quality, secure, HIPAA compliant data and analysis to the Northwestern research community. We are embedded within the Northwestern Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse and conform to their best practices and data standards. We offer flexible solutions to handle everything from the delivery of small one-time data pulls to larger multi-institutional initiatives requiring ongoing support, analysis and data architecture.

Accessing NMHC Data for Research Purposes

Document access requires connection via VPN.
Accessing NMHC and/or the electronic medical record for research purposes requires participation in the NMHC Access Program.
If you are a non-employee of NU (intern/summer student/visiting scholar), please review the non-employee manual for access steps.
For more information about access, Study Tracker, and other workflows, visit this FAQ page.

Submitting EDW Requests

Use the EDW Portal to submit a request. Login required.

Submit a Request

Contact Us

To contact the Application Support Team, please email nmedw@northwestern.edu

To contact the Research Analytics Team, please email ResearchAnalytics@nm.org

The Research Analytics Team

Our Policy

The Research Use of EDW Data policy ensures data is obtained only through authoritative data sources with evidence of approval via pathways consistent with existing agreements for NMHC data. Review the EDW FAQ below about how this policy may apply to your research and how to access EHR data appropriately.

Research Use of EDW data policy

Useful Links

Logins are required.

EDW Portal

FAQ

What services does Research Analytics provide?

Data extractions form the database of electronic health records (EHR), data visualization via dashboards, MyChart recruitment executions and REDCap integration.

What is the average turnaround time for a request?

The average turnaround time varies based on the complexity of the request. Our goal is to provide datasets within 4 to 6 weeks of initial meeting, or sooner. Deadlines are prioritized accordingly.

How much does a typical request cost?

The average request takes 8-12 hours of analyst time at $110 per hour. However, this is highly contextual and dependent on the complexity of the request.

Why is there a cost?

This cost subsidizes analyst salaries in conjunction with funding from the Dean's office. The differing costs relative to complexity allows us to balance workload and properly prioritize each project.

What do I do if I have no funding?

Researchers requiring pilot data can apply for the Pilot Data Program via Competitions. This grant covers 12 hours of analyst time.

What is a data steward and their role in the process?

The data steward acts as the final approver for release of a given data source. Most commonly, we engage with the NMHC Data Steward, analyzing study documents to ensure the request properly adheres to state and federal law. NMHC Data Steward Approval is required to release any identifiable patient information from the EHR.

What types of data are available?

Almost any visible data in the EHR is available within the EDW. All legacy EHR data (Powerchart, legacy Epic) lives within the EDW and is accessible for reporting purposes. If you require deidentified images, a separate process utilizes the Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA).

How do I request deidentified images?

First, your study must be submitted for Data Steward Approval. Place a formal request via the EDW Portal and indicate that you are only seeking deidentified images. After approval, you can place a ticket via the Research Imaging Request Form (login required).

If my request isn't research-related, where should I go?

For non-research related inquiries (i.e. operational or quality improvement related data requests), please direct your questions to the NM Analytics team. Place a ticket via ServiceNow or the EDW Portal.

How are reports delivered and accessed?

Reports are almost exclusively delivered via the EDW Portal. If a report is too large or complex to execute via the EDW Portal, data can be delivered via FSMResFiles, OneDrive or Sharepoint. Reports can only be shared with users on the study's Authorized Personnel List.

How do I cite the Northwestern Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse?

The Northwestern Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse (NMEDW) serves as the primary vehicle for data integration and transfer for both research and clinical operations. This dual-use model is one of the critical strengths of the NMEDW that enables it to function as a unique bridge integrating healthcare and research, ensuring support from both research and clinical partners. The NMEDW is a jointly-funded initiative, governed by a multi-institutional steering committee representing clinical and research users. The NMEDW currently stores detailed relational and structural observations on close to 10 million patients from electronic health records (EHR), pathology data from the hospital and research laboratories, biomarker data from research databases, research transactional data from our eIRB, clinical trial management system data, and many other institutional systems' data. The NMEDW has a mature data steward model, supported by an automated workflow as well as a team of data analysts dedicated to satisfying requests for NMEDW data for research purposes. The NMEDW follows the design principles, best practices, and standards of the Healthcare Data & Analytics Association.

What are Power Users and how do they access data?

Research Power Users are research professionals throughout Feinberg School of Medicine with database access to the EDW. Power Users adhere to the same data release guidelines as Research Analytics team members. Visit the Power User Sharepoint site for more information.