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Health Care Data and the SAS System

About the Book

book cover Health Care Data and SAS
By: Marge Scerbo, Craig Dickstein, and Alan Wilson
ISBN: 978-1-58025-865-4
Pages: 300


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Finally! A book that draws together tried and true techniques for using SAS to work with health care data. New and experienced SAS programmers and analysts working in health care data analysis will find this book invaluable in their daily professional life. Health care data can be diverse and complicated. With this book you will learn how to use SAS to access the information within the data.

A terrific primer for new health care analysts and a reference for long-time practitioners, this book defines the types of health care data and explores a wide range of tasks, including:

  • reading health care data
  • validating the data
  • manipulating the data
  • producing reports

The combination of basic information and tricks of the trade make this a "must-have" book for health care programmers and analysts.

About the Authors

author photo As a Senior Analyst at the Center for Health Program Development and Management at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Marge has filled many roles. She has designed analytic databases of both claims and encounters in the Maryland Medicaid system and was the principal developer of a major data warehouse and decision support system, specifically in the area of health care. Her expertise is in the area of quality assessment and clinical evaluation of health care delivery systems. Marge has been a user of SAS software for over 15 years and has 20 years of experience in health care from pediatric oncology to laboratory medicine, from private to public organizations. Marge has participated in local, regional, and international SAS user groups as an invaluable organizer and popular speaker. author picture Craig Dickstein, an independent Consultant, works with clients and select project teams to implement customized business solutions for the healthcare industry. He began his career in medical research, gaining an appreciation for the rigors of applied research methodology. A SAS user since 1978, he has significant experience managing and developing SAS applications, statistical analysis, and data management. With a Masters degree in statistics, Craig served as Director of Statistical Services with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Hampshire. Craig has a long history of SAS user group involvement including a stint on the Executive Committee of the NorthEast SAS Users Group, Inc. Craig is a co-author of Health Care Data and the SAS System for SAS Publishing and a Business Knowledge Series course based on the book for SAS Education Division.

author photo Alan is Associate Professor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is scientific director of the Lipid Disorder Center there, and manages the New Jersey Myocardial Infarction Data Acquisition System (MIDAS). Alan trained in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a lipid biochemist and did fellowships in Texas and Ontario, Canada, as a researcher in polyunsaturated fatty acids, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension clinical trials and administrative records for over 17 years. An active contributor to local, regional, and international SAS user conferences, Alan is also a SAS Certified Professional.    
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