One of the OKRs for the Healthcare System Interest Group (HSIG) is to create a methodology for moving the data in the SOURCE_TO_CONCEPT_MAP (STCM) table into the CONCEPT and CONCEPT_RELATIONSHIPS (C/CR) tables in the 2 billionaire range.
The STCM was originally created for OMOP v4 for the purposes of allowing the mapping of local codes to OMOP Standard Concepts. With the advent of OMOP v5, however, that functionality was transferred to the C/CR tables. However, for backward compatibility reasons, the STCM was not deprecated. The idea was (presumably) that folks would gradually migrate to the newer method.
Unfortunately, the STCM still remains in wide use for several reasons:
- The Book of OHDSI recommends its use.
- It is relatively simple to implement.
- USAGI (a standard tool that helps with mapping) works with the STCM format.
- Local mapping can be maintained by a separate team unfamiliar with OMOP.
- There is no standard or recommended way to maintain the C/CR method.
- Moving from the STCM to C/CR can involve a lot of ETL code modification.
Also unfortunately, there are several reasons to stop using SCTM:
- Codes mapped in SCTM are not visible in ATLAS (OHDSIās cohort creation tool) and other standard tools.
- SCTM is not flexible enough to map the more subtle relationships available with C/CR like āMaps To Valueā.
- Hierarchies are not supported using STCM.
- As an organizationās mapping becomes more robust, the SCTM will remain limited.
Additional questions:
- What are the costs, benefits, and ROI (return on investment) with this move?
- What is the recommended course for organizations new to OMOP to implement local codes? SCTM or C/CR?
- How can organizations using STCM best convert their process to C/CR?
- Is a hybridized method possible?
- Should the STCM table be deprecated in future major OMOP releases (>6.0)?
- Whatever happened to the Wide Mapping Table?
The HSIG would like feedback, stories, problems, solutions, opinions, etc. around this issue.
Thanks.
@MPhilofsky @Eduard_Korchmar @Daniel_Smith @Yacob_Tsegay_Gebrete @roger.carlson
Pertinent links:
- Chapter 6 Extract Transform Load | The Book of OHDSI
- Creating a registry of custom concept_ids (2-Billionaire Club) to avoid collisions across networks - Vocabulary Users - OHDSI Forums
- Wide MAPPING table (in vocabulary) (problems with relationship) - OHDSI Forums
- THEMIS Question: What do people put in the source_value fields - CDM Builders - OHDSI Forums
- Move local mappings from Source_to_concept_map to Concepts - CDM Builders - OHDSI Forums
- Data and use of source_to_concept_map table - Implementers - OHDSI Forums