Today I explored SQL functions small, built-in commands that transform or summarize data. They’re grouped into:
- String functions – modify text (e.g., patient names, diagnosis codes).
- Numeric functions – calculate or manipulate numeric values (e.g., lab values, doses).
- Date/time functions – work with timestamps (e.g., admission dates).
💡 Practical Example Idea: Use DATEPART() to extract the month from an admission date, then group admissions by month for seasonal trend analysis in respiratory illnesses.
I’m still experimenting with these on sample data, but the potential for transforming clinical datasets is huge.