If you are a health-system leader (a policymaker or stakeholder) looking for help in answering an urgent question, we can provide the best available research evidence through our Rapid Response program. Through Forum+, we can offer rapid responses in the area of social systems as well.
Contact us at forum@mcmaster.ca to set up a service agreement so your organization can call on us when a rapid response is needed (or to initiate a request if your organization is covered under an existing service agreement).
Our Rapid Response program provides responses in three-, 10- or 30-business days, and includes research evidence about the identified health-system challenge based on a systematic search for information about a problem and its causes, options for addressing it, and/or key implementation considerations.
This program is designed to fill the gap between the ‘self-serve’ option of using Health Systems Evidence (or Social Systems Evidence) and the ‘full-serve’ option of requesting a stakeholder dialogue informed by a pre-circulated evidence brief (and possibly one or more citizen panels). Procedures for the service ensure transparent reporting of the strengths and limitations of the resulting evidence summary, in light of the time constraints of the request.
To learn more about the Forum's Rapid Response program and its outputs: