POPLAR is working with ICES to ensure robust privacy and security

Welcome to the first POPLAR What's New Blog!

POPLAR is a group of primary care practice-based learning and research networks from across Ontario. These networks are connected to different universities and organizations. If you want to learn more about the seven networks that make up POPLAR, you can visit our Networks webpage and our General Questions webpage.

One of POPLAR’s main goals is to build a collection of primary care information from patients across Ontario. This information will not include any names or personal details. The dataset will help us:

• do research that can improve people’s health and the way health services are delivered, and

• give primary care providers helpful feedback to improve the care they give.

To keep this information safe and private, POPLAR is working with ICES, an independent, not-for profit health research and analytics institute. ICES is one of a handful of organizations in Ontario that have been specifically designated as a prescribed entity to collect and use personal information under the province’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). As our partnership grows, we will keep adding updates to our website, www.poplarnetwork.ca, about how we manage and protect this information.

Right now, POPLAR is onboarding our first few primary care clinics and expects data to be transferred to ICES by the end of March 2026. Over the next year, we will work hard to bring more clinics from across Ontario into the program. Their participation will help grow and strengthen the POPLAR dataset.

We will keep everyone updated through this newsletter, with a new issue emailed out every two months and a blog that can be seen on our website at any time. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at info@poplarnetwork.ca.

We are excited to work together to improve primary care and health in Ontario.

Sincerely,

POPLAR Executive & Patient Advisory Committee