This FAQ is for DEVELOPER questions : building, modifying, and configuring the software.
If you would like to obtain human specimens for your research study
>> Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center : Specimen Core Facility <<
Q1: How do I install PSL software?
Q2: What is the difference between PSL and SPIN?
From a TECHNOLOGY perspective, PSL is specific to biospecimens, whereas SPIN is a federated search library which can be used to search for anything.
Q3: What is the future of PSL technology?
Signup for the mailing list and join the discussion
Has the scrubber actually been used to share free-text patient data?
Yes. The scrubber was used to de-identify over 1 million pathology reports across Harvard affiliated teaching hospitals.
Will my hospital IRB approve using this Scrubber?
This will depend on the expected stringency and intended use of the de-identified data. At Harvard, the scrubber was IRB approved for full-text searching in pathology reports. In the Harvard implementations, up to 400 reports could be shared with an approved investigator.
How well does the scrubber work?
See publications for an in depth manual review of cases.
Recent independent reviews at 2 large HMO sites suggest even better performance since the 2006 report.
Updated report forthcoming.
Does the scrubber also help find medical concepts? (autocoding)
This is the top priority for 2011, see project roadmap.
Since the scrubber can find phrases of any kind, this is definitely possible, even in the existing released code.