Target Audience: Member organizations | Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Why it Matters
Establishing a reliable baseline of population data is essential for member organizations and the Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT), as it creates a foundation for understanding the community’s evolving health landscape. By capturing accurate snapshots of who lives in the region, the prevalence of specific health issues, and factors such as housing, income, and access to services, member organizations can anticipate needs and respond with greater precision. This commitment to data-driven insight supports the development of targeted strategies and fosters collaboration across the health system, ultimately allowing providers to deliver care that is both responsive and equitable.
Dig Deeper
In an effort to better understand and serve the healthcare needs of Huron Perth & Area, the Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) recently completed a comprehensive data-gathering initiative to establish a baseline profile of our population. This marks a key step in our OHT’s ongoing commitment to evidence-informed decision making delivering on integrated, patient-centered care.
The data collection involved compiling population demographics, common health conditions, service use patterns, and social factors that affect health—such as housing, income, and access to care. This gave our team a clearer picture of the overall health of the population, as well as where gaps and challenges may exist.
We collaborated with the Learning Health System Working Group to review our data collection process and ensure all relevant components were captured. After completing an initial analysis, we validated the data and our approach with both the Planning and Priority Setting Committee and Implementation Committee. Following these reviews, we presented our population baseline data project at the All Members Meeting to ensure all sectors, partners, volunteers, and members of the OHT were informed and engaged.
This project also aimed to create a consistent framework for clinical planning across the region. By using shared data and common indicators, this will allow health system partners to align their priorities and make evidence-based decisions. This supports smarter, data-driven investments in care—ensuring resources go where they are needed most and have the greatest impact.
The findings will also help our team address health equity by identifying which groups may be facing more challenges in accessing care or maintaining good health. With this insight, HPA-OHT is in a better position to make informed decisions about where to focus time, services, and resources.
Next Steps
Next, we will use the population baseline data to develop a data dashboard that will support monitoring, planning, and decision-making across the OHT. The dashboard will function as a tool to provide easier access to data, enabling better analysis and understanding of the population’s needs. This data will also guide a deeper analysis focused on chronic disease management, helping us identify priority areas and define the next population health focus.