The benefits of BIRT include:

Standardized

  • All data loading and cleansing use industry standard Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) processes such as auditing and logging of all processes. This means that every data element is accounted for and stored in a standardized dimensional data model. This approach assures that EMR data from each source will look the same through the reporting tools and is therefore comparable for all organizations;
  • Reporting and data across the sector is normalized;
  • All accountability reporting uses the single standardized formulas that are calculated from a single source;
  • Queries and reports framework can be shared among all BIRT users. This reduces development time and helps in developing best practices; 
  • An organized repository with the information required to support strategic, managerial and tactical decision making; 
  • BIRT is an IBM-Cognos based Web portal for queries and reports, metadata to describe the data and a data delivery service to provide guided and seamless access to the participating member centres data.

Efficient

  • Centralized and secure management of the data storage environment. This means reduced costs, increased service levels and capacity on demand;
  • All Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) processes are automated using industry standard processes to log all events and monitor all services assuring high quality reliable reporting; 
  • Production and change management processes optimized for maximum uptime with consideration of quarterly reporting priorities.

Innovative

  • One of the largest comprehensive EMR Primary care data sets in North America;
  • Applying leading edge Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) and Business Intelligence (BI) practices to enable trusted accountability reporting and full self-serve analytics for client and provider level analysis;
  • The BIRT data model is always evolving to add new elements and permit further research and predictive analysis of clients and practice profiles;
  • The single source for all organizational analysis through the ability for participating members to import their own external data and integrate with the Enterprise Data Warehouse data; 
  • A database which is now optimized to conduct some of the most comprehensive primary care research to help understand relationship between the sector’s model of health and population health;

Reliable

  • All data has been validated to source by all participating organizations for very high confidence in a process that is fully auditable;
  • All user logins and report queries are tracked using IBM-Cognos industry leading user audit logs. This service also permits the BIRT team to track user adoption and consider strategies to improve the overall BIRT Program services;
  • Having moved to a tier 3 data centre, BIRT is utilizing Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), which is a set of detailed practices for IT service management that focuses on aligning IT services with the needs of business principles. This ensures robust IT infrastructure to prevent data loss and minimize unplanned service interruptions.