This new report from a Toronto-based partnership explores the value, need, and logistics of collecting health equity-related data from patients seeking health services. Starting in 2010, three Toronto-based hospitals – Mount Sinai Hospital, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and St. Michael’s Hospital – identified the need for patient socio-demographic data to inform health service planning. Soon joined by Toronto Public Health, the partnership embarked on a project to develop a patient questionnaire and start collecting data. Data included patient race, age, language, length of Canadian residency, housing status, disability status, religion, gender identify, sexual orientation, and income. The project was so successful, that the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network has now asked all of its hospitals to collect this information.
This report provides detailed information about the project findings and process. For more information and to read the report, please visit the Mount Sinai website.