Dataset Library Service

Overview

This propriety service delivers access to a secure, fully searchable website that provides field-level information on the specification of data elements based on project-specific datasets or standards (both national/international, e.g. notifiable diseases) and includes full version tracking of datasets.

The library comes pre-loaded with exemplar datasets across a number of domains and users can host their own project-specific datasets. In addition, a programming interface (API) is provided for programmatic use.

An Excel template enables the recording of dataset definitions, look up lists and external references. It can also be used to capture information governance requirements, such as flagging personal health information (PHI) fields and generating De-Identification Service configuration files.

For technical users, a set of utilities is provided that helps to save time to prototype or implement a data integration or storage strategy by turning the Excel template into useful snippets of SQL for table definitions, views and queries.

Features

• Web-based service
• Pre-populated
• Field level information
• Data flows and data exchange with NHS Scotland
• Turn datasets definitions into snippets of SQL, XML schema files etc.
• API provided for programmatic use

Benefits

• Single source of truth
• Supports good practice and re-use
• Accommodates project-specific datasets
• Captures information governance requirements
• Ensures standards are adhered
• Prevents/reduces errors in transmitting data between organisations

The Dataset Library Service is available as an extension to your existing Collaborative Workspace. Get in touch to discuss how it can be used to support your study.