Social demographic data collection and use in Ontario’s CHCs in the context of virtual delivery of social programs

Ontario’s 73 Community Health Centres provide both health and social care services to at risk populations. During the pandemic, Community Health Centres have had to switch much of their care from in-person to virtual services. This has had some positive effects (for example, by reducing rates of missed appointments) and some negative (many clients do not have access to devices or stable internet). Yet, it is impossible to judge how different population groups have been affected by this change without the right data such as age, sex, education, ethnicity, income, etc. Much of this social demographic data is not collected regularly across Ontario’s CHC. This internship project will help us understand why social demographic data is not collected and who can help ensure it is collected in the future. The project will help the partner, the Community Health Centre’s membership organization, by developing tools and key performance indicators to support better data collection and use.

Faculty Supervisor:

Agnes Grudniewicz

Student:

Partner:

Alliance for Healthier Communities

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: