What is the GEAR Database?

The Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research (GEAR) Database is a cloud-based, multi-site research infrastructure supporting patient-centered data for evaluation of interventions and characteristics aimed at providing improved care for older adults in the ED.

Eligibility to use the GEAR data?

The GEAR Database is a publicly available database open to GEAR member sites and their authorized staff.  Sites contributing data in turn, can access other contributed multi-site data. Research applications from GEAR member sites are screened for eligibility and feasibility by the GEAR Governance Committee.

What kind of data is included and how was it determined?

GEAR members convened to identify key priority areas for investigation in 2017.  An expert Taskforce of multidisciplinary Geriatrics Emergency Medicine experts agreed on initial key metrics to capture. The data warehouse prioritizes information already captured in existing administrative and clinical electronic health record data, including codes such as ICD-10, CPT, and RxNorm, to name a few.

 

The GEAR Database is considered a limited data set, with the only qualifying personal health information (PHI) being date of service. Examples of data include: Demographic data (age, sex, race, insurance type); ED census of older adults, ED diagnoses(s), ED length of stay, ED procedures, disposition, medications prescribed, 30-day ED revisit rate, and 30-day readmission rates to the same hospital. 

 

Please note that prior to providing site data, sites must complete both Institutional Review Board approvals and a Data Use Agreement with participating sites to enable data sharing, a process which can take a few months.

My site is interested in becoming a GEAR member site. How do I learn more, and what would be the next steps?

Reach out to gearnetwork1234@gmail.com for more information.