Technical Requirements for Data Analysts

Review this list of technical requirements needed before deciding whether to apply for access to the Public Health Data Warehouse.

What topics can I use the Public Health Data Warehouse to study?

• Preventing and treating substance use
• Supporting mothers, babies, and children
• Responding to COVID-19
• Addressing the effects of climate change on health
• Promoting health and racial equity

What is it like to use the Public Health Data Warehouse?

• The Public Health Data Warehouse is a complex data warehouse.
• The only analytic software used for the Public Health Data Warehouse is SAS. Users must do all analyses using DPH's SAS Enterprise environment.
• You can only access the Public Health Data Warehouse on site at DPH’s Boston office. There is no remote access.
  • You can use the dummy datasets to create code remotely.
  • You can send this code to DPH staff to run and return the results.
• You cannot remove data from the Public Health Data Warehouse.
• The Public Health Data Warehouse is made up of individual-level data, but due to privacy, you can only get aggregate-level data out of the PHD.
  • The lowest level of geography available is zip code.

What skills should my project team have?

• You will need a team made up of subject matter experts and skilled analysts/programmers.
• It is helpful to have someone on the team who has used similar datasets before.

Can I use the Public Health Data Warehouse to access just one dataset in it?

• No, all analyses must use at least two of the Public Health Data Warehouse datasets.
• If you want access to a single dataset, please contact that data provider directly.

How long does it usually take to complete a project?

• Analyses usually take at least a year to finish for new teams.

What else do I need to know?

• All work is done on behalf of DPH. That means DPH owns all results of all PHD analyses.
  • You must provide anything related to the project to DPH if requested. Examples include SAS code or analytic outcome tables from the project.
• You cannot publish or share the results without DPH’s approval. DPH and data partners must review and approve all results. You must incorporate any suggested changes. You cannot share results anywhere or in any form until DPH approves them.

Learn More

Data Analyst Application and Information - Public Health Data Warehouse Data Analyst Application and Information - Public Health Data Warehouse +

Learn More

Data Sources - Public Health Data Warehouse Data Sources - Public Health Data Warehouse +

Learn More

Studies and Publications - Public Health Data Warehouse Studies and Publications - Public Health Data Warehouse +

Learn More