Improving Healthcare Data in Ontario

Quality healthcare data is essential to plan and improve the quality, efficiency and equity of healthcare services. In other jurisdictions, substantial investments in healthcare data have transformed the performance and efficiency of healthcare delivery, for example, the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

This report provides a description of the usefulness and limitations of existing provincial data for services provided within Ontario’s publicly funded healthcare system. Chief concerns addressed include: comprehensiveness, completeness, accuracy, timeliness, linkability, anonymity and consistency over time. In particular, the report describes uses of available data and outlines the improvements required to meet the Ontario healthcare system’s growing information needs.