About Us

The establishment and early development of data linkage for health services research is described in "Population-based linkage of health records in Western Australia: development of a health services research linked database" (1999, PDF)

The Western Australian Data Linkage System consists of chains of links where each link is associated with a record in one of the core data sets. All links in a particular chain have been associated with the same individual through the process of probabilistic record linkage (Newcombe, 1988). This method of linkage relies on the availability of similar demographic information (e.g. name, gender, date of birth, address) in each data source.

Although Health Information Linkage operations depend on access to personal identifying information derived from each of the contributing data sources, the health details are stored and managed separately.

Monthly updates of morbidity, mortality, cancer, midwives’, births, emergency and mental health linkages, and annual updates for ambulance and Silver Chain linkages, ensure that the linked information in the core data sets remains current.

WA electoral roll records were incorporated in April 2000, which helped to resolve some doubtful links as well as providing a sampling frame for research projects. A complete set of electoral roll records was received in March 2001 and updates are now added quarterly.

_{Newcombe, H. B. (1988). Handbook of Record Linkage: Methods for Health and Statistical Studies, Administration and Business. New York, Oxford University Press.}