DAP – data from the Health Platform (SP) and other data sources, as well as analytical and development tools 

The region’s cloud-based research platform, DAP (Data and Analysis Platform), provides access to copies of data from a range of regional sources, such as the Health Platform (SP) and images from RIS/PACS. Laboratory results are delivered via SP.

DAP also provides access to a range of analytical tools and tools for the development and training of machine learning models on large datasets, such as Python, R, and SAS (the latter is currently being established – as of August 2024).

Data extraction is requested by submitting a case in the CIMT Service Portal. From there, two paths apply:

• If the data extraction is simple and clearly specified: The SP Health Data Unit uploads the dataset to a virtual workspace linked to the research project.
• If the extraction is not simple and clearly defined: The SP Health Data Unit will invite the researcher to a clarification meeting.

Cost

• It is free to acquire datasets for research purposes, except for very large projects.
• All projects, regardless of size, pay for computing usage in the virtual workspace in the cloud, i.e. they are invoiced for their activity on the platform. The amount covers the cost of electricity, which the region pays to Microsoft.
• There is currently no charge for storage.

Number of users

There is no limit to the number of researchers who can access the data and generate reports within the project’s virtual workspace.

• Read the guide to DAP Research Service on the region’s intranet
• Find templates for data processing agreements etc. on TUH’s website 
  
  

Prerequisites for accessing research data 

• That the researcher/requester is registered as a Region H user
• That legal approvals and consents are in place. If, in the specific project, the SP Health Data Unit is asked for data that currently falls outside the DAP framework, the unit will contact the region’s Information Security Unit to obtain approval—for example, for the extraction of genomic data. 
  
  

Limitations or reservations

• Work in the DAP Research Service is best suited for advanced queries and typically requires that the project has its own data science expertise—or is able to purchase such support from the SP Health Data AI team. For simpler queries, Slicer Dicer may be a better solution – see below.
• At some point, a fee for storage may be introduced, for example in cases involving large volumes of imaging data.
  
  

Access to data from national registers.

In addition to data from the region’s sources, the SP Health Data Unit can also upload data from national registers into DAP and align them with data from SP and/or other regional sources.

Slicer Dicer - data from the Health Platform (SP) and reporting functionality

If you need aggregated data from the Health Platform and the ability to compile reports, you can use Slicer Dicer:

Slicer Dicer is a tool within the Health Platform that can be used to present and analyse SP data. In Slicer Dicer, you can view aggregated and pseudonymised data for all (currently) 3.2 million patients across both regions (note: access to pseudonymised data requires that the work is not part of a research project). These can be filtered and segmented by, for example, hospital, department, diagnosis, or procedure. You can also combine these parameters.

For instance, you can generate a real-time overview of patients in a department, clinical division, hospital, or region with a given diagnosis or procedure.

Slicer Dicer operates as an integrated part of SP, and your private Slicer Dicer sessions can be shared with colleagues who also have access to the tool. In addition, you can build your own dashboard using the components you have created in Slicer Dicer.

Suitable for testing a clinical development hypothesis.

Limitations or reservations

• Suitable for staff who do not wish to code their own queries
• You must be registered as a Region H-user
• May become advanced/technical in terms of clinical terminology and logic
  

See the guide to Slicer Dicer on the region’s intranet