Happy holidays! Recently the BC-PHCRN has dedicated efforts to expanding the scope of primary care research projects, adding initiatives that focus on pandemic preparedness, evaluation of team-based care clinics, and advancing access in primary care. We’ve been working to scale out this work with interdisciplinary researchers both provincially and nationally, and advancing the BC-PHCRN data repository to develop and maintain an enduring primary care dataset in BC. Please see our updates below, along with some exciting upcoming webinars and conferences.
In This Update
- BC-PHCRN Data Repository: an enduring primary care dataset
- Research Activity Updates
- MAPLE-CHF (Multidisciplinary Approach for high-risk Patients Leading to Early diagnosis of Canadians with Heart Failure)
- Pandemic pREparedness engaging Primary cARe and Emergency Departments (PREPARED)
- OPtimizing Teams for Interprofessional Care in Primary Health Care, a Longitudinal Study of Inter-Professional Team-Based Health Care
- OECD Patient Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS): Phase 2
- Passerelle: Participation in a Digital DELPHI Consultation
- Upcoming Events
- Recent Reports/Publications
- Canadian Primary Care Research Consortium (CPCRC) Updates
- Subscribe to the BC-PHCRN Newsletter
BC-PHCRN Data Repository: an enduring primary care dataset
The BC-PHCRN data repository is a foundational pillar of our Network, extracting de-identified electronic medical record (EMR) data from primary care clinics across the province. Our team collaborates with EMR vendors, health authorities, organizations and primary care providers to support quality improvement practices, disease surveillance, patient panel management, and health systems planning.
Following guidance from the latest CPCSSN Data Quality Report, the Network data team has continued to improve quality standards and expanded standardization to reduce gaps in coded data. The team has also been developing custom chronic condition dashboards for clinicians to support them with effective care planning tools for follow-up treatments. This work continues to evolve and opportunities to scale out are being explored.
With the support of Population Data BC, the data team is also exploring the transition to Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC) to share data repository data with external researchers in their Trusted Analysis Environment (TAE). The Network will be sharing more details on how this transition will look for the Network in coming months.
If you have any questions related to this work, please send us an email.
Research Activity Updates
MAPLE-CHF (Multidisciplinary Approach for high-risk Patients Leading to Early diagnosis of Canadians with Heart Failure)
Led by Dr. Nathaniel Hawkins at UBC, MAPLE-CHF is the Canadian arm of SYMPHONY, an international randomized controlled trial screening for heart failure in the community. Patients at risk for heart failure are identified through their electronic health records and randomized to usual care or a screening strategy using natriuretic peptides and artificial intelligence echocardiography.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact project coordinator Andrea Chee at achee01@mail.ubc.ca
Pandemic pREparedness engaging Primary cARe and Emergency Departments (PREPARED)
This pan-Canadian project is intended to enhance surveillance, improve care and health system efficiency, accelerate biomanufacturing of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, and facilitate patient linkage to clinical trials, thereby improving health system efficiency and pandemic preparedness. PREPARED aims to integrate a point-of-care multi-pathogen testing system into primary care clinics and emergency departments. The four interrelated objectives are to:
- Enhance surveillance – identify new viruses and detect future pandemics
- Improve patient care and health system efficiency – improve rapid testing for multiple viruses
- Accelerate the development of treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tests
- Facilitate linkage to trials – link patients to clinical trials
The Network is actively recruiting interested primary care practices or emergency departments.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact project coordinator Mallory Browne at mallory.browne@ubc.ca
OPtimizing Teams for Interprofessional Care in Primary Health Care, a Longitudinal Study of Inter-Professional Team-Based Health Care
Led by regional lead Dr. Sabrina Wong (lead PI, Dr. Walter Wodchis, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto), this 12-month, multi-jurisdictional project will be exploring (through interviews and ethnographic observations) how interprofessional primary healthcare teams are initially formed, how they work together, what structural processes (both internal and external) impact dynamics and how they evolve with time. The goal of this work is to understand the lifecycle and challenges of interprofessional care teams in primary health care. The team will begin data collection in the next few months.
OECD Patient Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS): Phase 2
Canada (via Health Canada) is interested in participating in the second cycle of the PaRIS OECD and has invited the Canadian Primary Care Research Consortium (CPCRC) to complete this project. PaRIS is the OECD’s Patient Reported Indicator Surveys initiative where countries work together on developing, standardizing, and implementing a new generation of indicators that measure the outcomes and experiences of healthcare that matter most to people. The PaRIS survey fills a critical gap in information about health system funding, by asking about aspects like coordination of care and trust, as well as quality of life, pain, physical functioning and psychological well-being. Learn more here: Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys | OECD. The pan-Canadian team is diligently working on several publications from Phase 1 results that we look forward to sharing in coming months.
Passerelle: Participation in a Digital DELPHI Consultation
To date, no consensus exists regarding the organizational indicators that can demonstrate the integration of patient-oriented research (POR) principles within health care institutions. To address this gap, our partners at Passerelle, University of Sherbrooke, are conducting a DELPHI study to reach expert consensus on these indicators. They are looking to recruit patient partners with research experience, or, professionals, researchers anddecision-makers who have worked or collaborated on patient-centered research projects. The objective of this study is to develop a set of indicators deemed essential for assessing whether a health care institution effectively integrates POR principles.
If interested, you may register here.
If you have any questions, you may contact: Anne-Sophie Langlois at anne-sophie.langlois2@usherbrooke.ca
Upcoming Events
Webinar | Health Data Research Network Canada: Using Provincial Administrative Health Data to Support Canadian Veterans
Virtual Session | December 17, 2025 | 9:00am – 10:00am PT | Presenter: Dr Alyson Mahar
Click here for registration details
Canadian Armed Forces members experience unique exposures during their military career that may positively or negatively impact their long-term health outcomes. With nearly half a million veterans living across Canada, provinces and territories with population-based health data infrastructure can leverage administrative health and social data to support this nationally distributed population.
Dr Alyson Mahar is an epidemiologist and health services researcher at the School of Nursing at Queen’s University, focused on using routinely collected health and social data to address the health and well-being of Canadian Veterans and military families.
Seminar | Centre for Health Services and Policy Research Seminar Series: Building a Learning Health System for Correctional Health Services in BC
Hybrid | January 6, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00pm PT | Presenters: Dr Amanda Slaunwhite and Jennifer Duff
Click here for registration details
People incarcerated in BC provincial correctional centres experience layered social, economic, and health inequities, exacerbated by high rates of mental illness and substance use disorders. In 2021, 51.1% of incarcerated people in BC had a diagnosed mental illness, 58.9% had a substance use disorder, and 41.0% had both. Correctional Health Services, part of BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS), delivers health care in the province’s ten provincial correctional centres.
In this presentation, Jennifer Duff, Chief Operating Officer of BCMHSUS, and Dr Amanda Slaunwhite, Scientific Director of Correctional Health Services, will describe efforts to build a learning health system where data, research, quality improvement, and clinical operations are integrated to support evidence-based action to reduce health inequities among incarcerated people in BC.
Conference: Putting Patients First 2026
Hybrid | March 3, 2026 | Vancouver
Hosted by Health Research BC, there is no cost to attend. Spots are limited. Register as soon as possible to secure your spot at the event.
Conference | Centre for Health Services and Policy Research: The Quintuple Aim: Can’t Get There From Here?
Hybrid | March 12-13, 2026 | Vancouver
CHSPR will hold its 38th annual health policy conference March 12-13, 2026 at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre on the UBC campus. This long-standing Canadian health policy conference promotes debate and discussion on timely issues facing health systems in Canada. The 2026 conference will engage attendees in policy debates associated with provinces’ and territories’ progress toward the Quintuple Aim. The Quintuple Aim calls for improving population health, slowing healthcare spending growth, improving patient experience, and improving the health of the workforce, while addressing cross-cutting domains of health equity. The conference organizing committee invites submissions of abstracts for poster presentations on health services and policy research topics, with preference for topics relevant to the Quintuple Aim. The submission deadline is December 18, 2025.
Recent Reports/ Publications
CHSPR Health Policy Conference Summary
Beresford A, Dasgupta D, Jafari M, Kamihiro N, Ghirmay ET, Tolppa T, Valle L, Xie M, Elkes S, Wong ST. Primary Care at A(nother) Crossroads: Conference Summary. Vancouver (BC): UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; Jun 2025. Read more
Research output: Implementing a multi-site research project
Greiver M, Dahrouge S, Manca DP, Singer AG, Jean-Xavier C, Kosowan L, Pathiraja H, Grandy M, Lussier MT, Aubrey-Bassler K, O’Brien T, Authier M, Dev R, Garies S. Structured Process Informed by Data, Evidence and Research (SPIDER) framework: Eight legs of success for running projects in primary care practices. Can Fam Physician. 2025 Sep;71(9):572-573. doi: 10.46747/cfp.7109572. PMID: 40940146. Read more
Research output: Developing a frailty index and factors associated
Thandi M, Price M, Baumbusch J, Brown S, Wong S. Capturing factors associated with frailty using routinely collected electronic medical record data in British Columbia, Canada, primary care settings. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2025 May 8;26:e41. doi: 10.1017/S1463423625000337. Read more
Canadian Primary Care Research Consortium (CPCRC) Updates
TheCanadian Primary Care Research Consortium (CPCRC) is building momentum, with the goal of bringing together the following entities: Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN), the Canadian Primary Care Trials Network (CPCTN) and the data platforms, Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN) and Canadian Primary Care Information Network (CPIN) to collectively foster innovation, improve healthcare outcomes, and ensure research informs and enhances primary care practices nationwide.
The CPCRC is bringing together all members (researchers, trainees, patient partners and staff) to collectively discuss and determine goals and outputs of the CPCRC over the next few years. We will provide more updates and opportunities to get involved in the months to come.
Subscribe to the BC-PHCRN Newsletter
As always, we welcome you to share our newsletter with anyone in your community who may be interested in our research or events. We’re happy to connect with new members, and learn about your interests in public health, primary care or health research!
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