What is POPLAR?

POPLAR, the Primary care Ontario Practice-based Learning and Research Network, is an initiative of Ontario’s six University Departments/Sections of Family Medicine and the Alliance for Healthier Communities (Ontario’s Community Health Centres, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics and Aboriginal Health Access Centres). 

​

POPLAR is a collaboration of each of these  member practice-based learning and research networks (PBLRNs) who facilitate the secure collection and de-identification of electronic medical record (EMR) data to support primary care practices in delivering optimal care across Ontario and to strengthen practice-based clinical research and quality improvement processes.

​

POPLAR member PBLRNs work with clinicians, researchers, and policy makers, providing information on the vital work primary care does, while supporting practices in delivering optimal care across Ontario.

 

Currently, the POPLAR member PBLRNs are engaging with over 1,000 Primary Care Providers to contribute EMR data from over 1.8 million patients across Ontario.  By doing this work, POPLAR member PBLRNs are facilitating the creation of a provincial repository of de-identified primary care data that can be used for research and quality improvement purposes.