Partnerships and Alliances

Recognizing the importance of partnerships in achieving positive change, ICES has assembled a diverse network of stakeholders, associate scientists and representatives of provincial, national and international health care organizations to collaborate on research initiatives. This active involvement in external relations and stakeholder participation has created a forum for research excellence, policy debate and effective, sustainable change, while also expanding the capacity for research in Canada.

Over the years, ICES has strengthened its long-term relationships, while forging new alliances to support emerging areas of research. Some of our key partnerships are profiled below.

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research Program

An enduring partnership exists between ICES and the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research Program  of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Established in the late 1980s, Clinical Epidemiology (CE) is one of four research disciplines at Sunnybrook in which scientists explore the causes, consequences and treatment of disease using a patient-focused approach.

The two organizations work closely together to improve the delivery of health care services and the treatment of disease in Ontario. This unique working relationship has led us to a point where many research projects are intertwined, faculty members have joint appointments, and special events are planned in unison.

In addition, ICES and CE collaborate to provide excellence in research training through an accredited Academic Program in clinical epidemiology and health services research for graduate students and fellows.

Canadian Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Team (CCORT)

The Canadian Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Team (CCORT), headquartered at ICES Central in Toronto, was established in 2001. CCORT is comprised of over 30 investigators from across Canada who collaborate on research aimed at measuring and improving the quality of cardiac care.

CCORT is led by Dr. Jack Tu, a Senior Scientist at ICES and leader of its Cardiovascular and Diagnostic Imaging Program. Initial funding for CCORT was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Interdisciplinary Health Research Team program, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. CCORT is currently funded by a CIHR Team Grant in Cardiovascular Outcomes Research.

Findings from CCORT’s novel research are described in over 155 peer-reviewed papers, including the publication of two randomized controlled trials conducted on hospital quality report cards and the first ever Canadian Cardiovascular Atlas. As well, the work of CCORT investigators informed the development of the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan, which was released in 2009. 

For more information, please see www.ccort.ca.

Cardiac Care Network of Ontario

The Cardiac Care Network of Ontario (CCN), an advisory body to the MOHLTC, is dedicated to improving quality, efficiency, access and equity in the delivery of cardiac services in Ontario.

With the aid of a computerized patient registry, CCN coordinates the province-wide provision of advanced adult cardiac services to facilitate equitable, timely and appropriate access to care. The CCN patient registry includes cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, stent procedures, and cardiac surgery.

ICES researchers contribute valuable evidence-based information to help CCN guide the MOHLTC in decision-making for future service funding. This has included: extensive data analyses on past and projected trends for cardiac procedure rates; assisting in the development of a methodology to determine future Ontario cardiac procedure rates based on patient need instead of historical supply; and, evaluation and refinement of the CCN urgency rating scoring system to appropriately prioritize patients on coronary angiography waiting lists to reduce future mortality rates.

Chiefs of Ontario

The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) is a coordinating body for 133 First Nations communities located within the boundaries of the Province of Ontario. COO and ICES have recently entered into a Data Governance Agreement that enables ICES to carry out health-related analyses for COO and the First Nations communities that COO supports and for whom it advocates.

For more information about this partnership and how ICES can work with individual First Nations communities, see this FAQ.

Hospital Report Research Collaborative

ICES is a key research collaborator on Ontario’s hospital report cards, with many faculty holding joint appointments with ICES and the University of Toronto's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

Led by the University of Toronto, the goal of the Hospital Report Research Collaborative is to help Ontario health care managers support quality improvement and demonstrate accountability. This research collaborative develops reports on hospital performance using the balanced scorecard format. A broad range of sectors is covered in the reports, including acute care, emergency department care, complex continuing care, rehabilitation and mental health.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Hospital Association, this work has resulted in one of the most comprehensive sets of performance measurement reports internationally.

Métis Nation of Ontario

In 2009 ICES began a collaboration with the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) to generate a series of chronic disease surveillance reports. The reports have focused on gathering Métis-specific data on incidence, prevalence, health services use and outcomes of common chronic illnesses that affect the Ontario population. Reports on diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease are available at the Métis Nation of Ontario website.

Studies on respiratory disease and mental illness and addictions in the Métis are currently underway as part of the ICES-MNO collaboration. The findings of these reports will help to inform the health priorities of the Métis people in Ontario, as well as to develop and deliver health programs tailored to their specific needs.

For more information on the ICES-MNO collaboration, contact Saba Khan at 416-480-4055, ext. 3891.

Other Partnerships

In addition to the partnerships detailed above, ICES has alliances with organizations such as:

• Toronto Community Health Profiles Partnership
• Universities in Ontario and across Canada