1. Just Shoot Me An Email Sending Emails with the SAS Datastep Jesse Metzger, PhD, MSPH University of Alaska – Anchorage Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services

2. Background  Clinical Study collecting meconium from newborn babies. Meconium is the first couple bowel movements from a newborn baby. Meconium is the first couple bowel movements from a newborn baby. Looking for the presence of ethyl esters and nicotine in the meconium as a biomarker for maternal alcohol and cigarette use. Looking for the presence of ethyl esters and nicotine in the meconium as a biomarker for maternal alcohol and cigarette use.  Pregnant women volunteered for the study, but day of birth is unpredictable – and meconium is a one shot deal (so to speak).

3. Background  Obstetric nurses were also involved in the study, but given their other duties, there were some deliveries slipping through without meconium collection.  We had complete access to hospital clinical management data – almost live clinical data.  We could determine if a woman delivered within 12 hours of the event.

4. Background  Decided to automate a procedure to check for recent admits. When found, SAS would automatically send research staff an email indicating which patient had been admitted and when. When found, SAS would automatically send research staff an email indicating which patient had been admitted and when. Then staff could follow-up with nurses to ensure that the meconium was collected for analysis. Then staff could follow-up with nurses to ensure that the meconium was collected for analysis.

5. Background  Although stored in an Oracle database, we accessed the hospital electronic data directly through SAS using an ODBC libname, providing password information, oracle schema information, etc.. Another topic entirely Another topic entirely  Used ICD-9 codes and other clinical data to determine if the visit was a true delivery or just a visit to the hospital for other reasons. Also, another topic Also, another topic

6. Sending Emails  I’m only going to talk about the specifics of how the emailing worked in SAS for our task.  I’m going to pretend today is: JUNE 14 th, 2011  Three mothers delivered :  Yesterday: JUNE 13 th, 2011  This morning: JUNE 14 th, 2011  Two weeks ago: JUNE 1 st, 2011

7. Sending Emails  I’m only going to talk about the specifics of how the emailing worked in SAS for our task.  I’m going to pretend today is: JUNE 14 th, 2011  Three mothers delivered :  Yesterday: JUNE 13 th, 2011  This morning: JUNE 14 th, 2011  Two weeks ago: JUNE 1 st, 2011 These two we want to know about today

8. Sending Emails  I’m only going to talk about the specifics of how the emailing worked in SAS for our task.  I’m going to pretend today is: JUNE 14 th, 2011  Three mothers delivered :  Yesterday: JUNE 13 th, 2011  This morning: JUNE 14 th, 2011  Two weeks ago: JUNE 1 st, 2011 These two we want to know about today Too late. This meconium was (hopefully) already collected

9. Sending Emails

10. These two gave birth yesterday and today

11. Sending Emails This one was two weeks ago

12. Sending Emails Again, these two gave birth yesterday and today

13. Sending Emails

14. Normally, I would use the Today() function

15. Sending Emails

22. Other Uses for Email  Automated emailing of results Either attached to email or with a link Either attached to email or with a link  Error notification with automated programs  Emailing clients Marketing Marketing Medication reminders Medication reminders

23. Good Paper  SMTP E-Mail Access Method: Hints, Tips, and Tricks - Chuck Hunley  http://support.sas.com/resources/papers/p roceedings10/060-2010.pdf http://support.sas.com/resources/papers/p roceedings10/060-2010.pdf http://support.sas.com/resources/papers/p roceedings10/060-2010.pdf