Omaha System in Minnesota: Innovations in population health research

Background and Issues: The goal of population health informatics is to improve population health through meaningful re-use of aggregated population-based data. The Omaha System is used in public health information systems and clinical documentation in the US and internationally. Description: The Omaha System Partnership for Knowledge Discovery and Health Care Quality is a new initiative within the Center for Nursing Informatics at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. The partnership has 3 components: 1) multidisciplinary scientific teams of researchers with experience in advanced data analysis and data mining techniques; 2) affiliate members from many countries who contribute clinical Omaha System data, suggest important clinical questions, and work together with the scientific team on research and evaluation projects; and 3) a warehouse of de-identified clinical Omaha System data including client problems, signs/symptoms, interventions, and knowledge, behavior, and status outcomes. Over 36 studies are in progress or completed. Recent examples include a descriptive study of problems experienced by community dwelling adults with schizophrenia, a comparative study of public health nursing services and outcomes for adult and adolescent Latina mothers, and an analysis of hearing assessments for firefighters. Lessons Learned: Increasingly, standardized interface terminology data sets will be generated by practicing PHNs and employed to address important clinical questions and generate new knowledge. Recommendations: Use of a shared interface terminology enables large-scale population health research across settings, populations, practices, languages, and countries. Practice-based research partnerships are an optimal environment in which to enhance practice, evaluate programs, measure outcomes, and improve population health.