The state of Oregon provides a number of opportunities for researchers to use privileged and confidential data. All disclosures of protected health information for research purposes are subject to state and federal law; the Department of Human Services can use and disclose de-identified information for research purposes and may disclose identifying information without a written authorization if the Institutional Review Board waives the authorization requirement.1  Health data may be disclosed in accordance with a limited data set data use agreement entered for purposes of research, if the researcher agrees not to make unauthorized use or disclosure of the information and not identify the information or contact the individual.2

        Publicly reported data may be used for research purposes in certain circumstances. Vital records may be used for research purposes, provided there is a research agreement in place.3  Non-identifying information contained in reports on communicable diseases submitted by laboratories may be used to compile statistical and other data.4  De-identified and aggregate ambulatory surgery data may be used for public studies of issues related to clinical practices, health service utilization and health outcomes; records may be obtained for each patient for special studies on the incidence of specific health problems or diagnostic practices.5  Non-identifying information obtained by the long-term care ombudsman program may be used for statistical, case study, or other research.6

        Certain registry data may be utilized for research purposes.  Confidential data from the childhood diabetes database may be used for approved research and studies,7  if the family about whom the confidential information pertains has an opportunity to decline contact regarding research opportunities.8  Individually identifiable information from the Oregon Trauma Registry may be used for approved research.9  Any research performed using confidential cancer registry data must be approved by the Committee for the Protection of Human Research Subjects.10  Information may be released from the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Registry to researchers for approved projects, if the researcher agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the information from the registry, provided that this does not limit the use and disclosure of such information for appropriate research purposes.11 Non-identifying information from the prescription monitoring program may be used for research purposes and for special epidemiologic morbidity and mortality studies.12