We need good information to effectively manage our health system. Numerous sources of health data have been used to support decision-making in the past. Many of these traditional sources, such as hospital information systems and medical billing systems, are still valid. However, the conversion of Canada’s fragmented, paper-based clinical systems to electronic records creates a unique opportunity to integrate data across the health care continuum and to better understand the health of Canadians and our health system.” 
– Canadian Institute for Health Information

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects a wide variety of important data from across the country. With this data, they create a number of reports highlighting patient care in different health settings, the health workforce, health spending, and health system performance.

Many of these databases are made available to researchers, decision-makers and health managers to assist with answering important research questions, inform decision-making and to calculate key health indicators. Some notable databases include:

• Discharge Abstract Database (DAD): captures administrative, clinical and demographic information on hospital discharges (including deaths, sign-outs and transfers).
• National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS): contains data for all hospital-based and community-based ambulatory care (Day surgery, outpatient clinics, emergency departments).
• National Rehabilitation Reporting System (NRS): collects data from participating adult inpatient rehabilitation facilities and programs across Canada.
• Continuing Care Reporting System (CCRS): contains demographic, clinical, functional and resource utilization information on individuals receiving continuing care services in hospitals or long-term care homes in Canada.

In addition to the databases available by request, CIHI also provides publicly accessible data, interactive reports and analytical tools. These include wait times reports, a patient cost estimator, and an indicator library.

To learn more about how your organization can utilize these datasets for your next research project, book a consultation:
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