The Office of the Chief Medical Officer 

COBRA

The COBRA (Cube of blood related activity) system was developed in response to a need for timely, relevant and easily accessible information on blood transfusion practice in Western Australian (WA) public hospitals. It links data regarding patient admissions (such as diagnosis, procedures, admission/discharge dates and consultant in charge), laboratory results and blood product transfusion history (such as units transfused, blood product type and laboratory results).

The system has the capability for interrogation of data at hospital, specialty/department, consultant and patient level. Data requests may be submitted either as a one-off request or as a recurring request based on specified frequency and parameters.

COBRA Data Governance

The COBRA data repository holds all linked data used within the COBRA system. It is held within the East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) data warehouse and is accessible only by approved EMHS Business Intelligence Units staff for system maintenance purposes. The COBRA system builds upon the existing data warehouse, which combines data from various systems for EMHS, South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) and Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).

Overarching responsibility for access, permissions, strategic direction and use of the COBRA system is governed by the Data Steward and Data Custodian. The Data Steward of the COBRA system is the Assistant Director General, Purchasing and System Performance, WA Department of Health. The Data Custodian of the COBRA system is the Chief Medical Officer, WA Department of Health.

The Data Custodian is responsible for identifying information requirements by consulting with key stakeholders and users of the information system.

All persons utilising the COBRA system data share the following responsibilities:

• using the data in an appropriate manner
• citing the source and currency of the information used
• advising the Data Custodian of any errors or omissions in data received
• maintaining confidentiality and security of the information in accordance with the conditions of use and relevant legislation

Information received or accessed through the COBRA system must only be used for the expressed purpose for which it was approved. It should not, under any circumstances, be used for any secondary purpose without prior approval from the Data Custodian. Users who breach confidentiality and security may be subject to disciplinary action and other remedies available through legislative provisions including the Information Breach Policy (MP 0135/20), Public Service Regulations and the Criminal Code. A breach of confidentiality and security includes unauthorised access, use and disclosure of confidential information.

Information Access

Requests for data from the COBRA system should be made and submitted electronically by completing the Blood Management Data Request Form (external site) through a secure web-based program REDCap™. REDCap is hosted by the Department of Health, Western Australia.

Users of this form are not required to open a REDCap account or install a specific computer program. Access to REDCap is free and can be accessed through the internet.

Parties external to WA Health may request data from the COBRA system, however requests will be considered by the Data Custodian in accordance with the Information Disclosure Model on a case-by-case basis. Approvals may be required according to the content and intended use of the data requested.

More information

If you have any questions relating to the COBRA System or Blood Management, please contact bloodmanagement@health.wa.gov.au or telephone 08 6373 2321.