THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH announced a big data partnership with St. Joseph Health, in which the health system would collect and send structured pathology cancer data directly to the California Cancer Registry.
The pilot project—which began in January 2014—is the result of a collaboration between CDPH, St. Joseph Health, mTuitive and the College of American Pathologists.
Ten hospitals within the St. Joseph Health system are now sending data to the registry, and more health care facilities are expected to participate.
The partnership is the first of its kind in the U.S., said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Karen Smith.
“Every second we save in sharing data gives researchers more time to spend on curing cancer,” Smith said in a statement.
According to CDPH, the project enables the cancer registry to perform real-time surveillance on data reported via project partners—providing new research opportunities focused on patient outcomes.
Prior to the project, cancer pathology data was stored within a facility’s electronic records system as “narrative text data”, which limits its uses.
Members of the partnership use a system called the CAP electronic Forms and Reporting Module. With CAP eFRM, pathologists are able to securely share cancer data with CCR.
“This partnership is another way in which the California Department of Public Health works with the private sector and health care systems to optimize the health and well-being of the people in California,” Smith said.
