Texas Outpatient Research Data File (OP RDF)

In accordance with Health and Safety Code, Section 108.012(b),"the council (department) may charge a person requesting public use or provider quality data a fee for the data.  The fees may reflect the quantity of information provided and the expense incurred by the council (department) in collecting and providing the data and shall be set at a level that will raise revenue sufficient for the operation of the council (department's program).  The council (department) may not charge a fee for providing public use data to another state agency.

Chapter 108 may be viewed by clicking here.

Outpatient Data not released in the PUDF can be requested for research purposes by individuals and organizations, including universities and government agencies. The data elements required for the proposed research and a description of the intended use of the data are reviewed by THCIC staff to ensure compliance with statutes governing the data and appropriate quality of detail within the application. Once THCIC staff has approved the request, it is forwarded to the DSHS Institutional Review Board for scientific review, including ethical considerations and final approval.

Please note that THCIC data is covered by specific statutes that are not the same as typical Public Health Surveillance laws.  It is a criminal act to attempt to identify any physician or patient through use of THCIC outpatient data (see Chapter 108, Texas Health and Safety Code). Your research data request should demonstrate an understanding of these statutes and include details of how the data will be handled throughout all stages of your research study.

Outpatient Research Data Application Forms and Instruction

The Outpatient RDF contains data on outpatient surgical and radiological procedures from Texas hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Data are available by calendar year beginning with data for 2010. The 2011 Outpatient RDF data is available now.  The scheduled availability date for 2012 Outpatient RDF data is January 2014.

Steps to Submitting a Research Data Application (Be aware that any of these stages may take 2-3 weeks or longer, depending on your understanding of the statutes pertaining to THCIC and your description of the research study).

1) Call or email to contact the THCIC program at (512) 776-7261 or (thcichelp@dshs.state.tx.us) and ask for the Texas Health Care Information Collection (THCIC) program.

2) Discuss the request with the THCIC program contact, explain what you need and determine the best way to present your request.

3) Complete the latest version of the DSHS IRB Application and Submission Detail Forms, plus the THCIC Outpatient Research Request form.

4) Sign the original forms, make the appropriate number of copies as indicated on the IRB website, and mail the submission packet to the THCIC Program for review.  The THCIC Program will forward the application to the IRB Office.

Mail to:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Center for Health Statistics, THCIC Program
P.O. Box 149347, MC 1898
Austin, Texas 78714-9347

Overnight mail:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Center for Health Statistics, THCIC Program
1100 W. 49th Street, MC 1898
Austin, Texas 78756-3199

THCIC Research Application Deadline	IRB Review Date
January 18, 2013	February 21, 2013
February 14, 2013	March 21, 2013
March 15, 2013	April 18, 2013
April 16, 2013	May 16, 2013
May 17, 2013	June 20, 2013
June 14, 2013	July 25, 2013
July 17, 2013	August 15, 2013
August 16, 2013	September 19, 2013
September 16, 2013	October 17, 2013
October 17, 2013	November 21, 2013
November 15 2013	December 19, 2013