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Patient Information
FAQ

Did you know?

 

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) data can be used to understand health problems seen in family practices to build a better health care system. There are many important health questions that can only be answered in family practices.

 

Family doctor/nurse practitioners recognize the value and need for these data to improve your care and the care of others like you. As part of this, EMR data are provided to the POPLAR Data Platform while protecting your privacy.

​What is the POPLAR Data Platform

The POPLAR Data Platform, once available, will be able to be used to securely collect electronic medical record data  in family practices and primary care sites across Ontario. This is being locally coordinated by the Practice Based Research and Learning Networks (PBLRNs) across Ontario. The data undergoes standardization and de-identification processes, which means that information such as names or phone numbers is not included in the finalized POPLAR Database.

 

The POPLAR Database will store de-identified EMR data for research and quality improvement. For example, through the POPLAR Database, family physicians and researchers will be able to:

  1. Measure how common some chronic conditions are; these include high blood pressure and diabetes

  2. Understand more about how these conditions are managed today

  3. Discover what could be done to improve care for patients in the future

What type of information is collected?

The POPLAR Data Platform will collect information about health and care, including how illnesses are diagnosed, treated and managed. In addition to clinical information, the database may also include demographic information such as postal code and gender. Data that can identify people such as names or addresses are not a part of the final POPLAR Database. These will be collected to link, with privacy safeguards, to other heath databases for the study of health conditions. To improve the removal of identifiers, they are encrypted, safeguarded and stored separately from the POPLAR Database.

 

A copy of the POPLAR Database  may be forwarded to authorized organizations such as: the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (www.cpcssn.ca), ICES (www.ices.on.ca) or other prescribed entities, and Diabetes Action Canada (diabetesaction.ca). This will be done to support important research projects with full ethics approval and privacy safeguards.

 

Data collected as part of POPLAR may also be used for clinical research and analysis of health problems facing patients. It is also used to provide feedback to your family doctor or nurse practitioner and the information can be used to improve quality of care. Potentially, data may be used under the direction of your family doctor or nurse practitioner to inform you about studies that may be of interest to you; patient participation in any study is always voluntary.

What about my privacy?

Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to keeping your personal health information safe and confidential at all times. Information collected from the EMR is stored in a secure central electronic system with strong safeguards to protect your privacy.

Is my data being collected?

Ask your primary care provider if they are participating in POPLAR (through one of the regional PBLRNs in Ontario). Participation is completely voluntary. If at any time you wish to opt-out, please tell your primary care provider.

Questions about the POPLAR?

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your primary care provider.

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