Want to better understand how the health and social systems work and how you can better advocate for changes that would improve these systems for you and your family? Enhance your knowledge with one of our free courses for citizens:
Finding and using research evidence: A guide for citizens
In this free online course, you’ll be provided with solutions to overcome the most commonly cited frustrations people have when trying to access research evidence. Prepared by the McMaster Health Forum with support from the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the course is now available online as a set of eight videos:
Here are helpful resources that are drawn on in the course:
- Definitions for word and phrases used in the modules
- How to make sure health information is trustworthy
- Links to online sources mentioned in the modules
Don’t miss the most important resource for citizen-targeted evidence about healthy aging:
Understanding how to navigate the health system
Knowing how your health system works will better you to navigate the system, identify opportunities to make things better, and advocate for changes that you’d like to see. This free online course describes the 'building blocks' of Ontario’s health system as well as how those building blocks are used to provide care in the province in different ways (e.g., by sector, condition, treatment, population). While Ontario is the example, these principles are useful to understanding health systems other jurisdictions in Canada and internationally.
Prepared by the McMaster Health Forum with support from the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the course is now available online as a set of six videos:
Here are helpful resources that are drawn on in the course:
- Free download of chapters from Ontario’s Health System: Key Insights for Engaged Citizens, Professional and Policymakers. The Ontario book is also helpful in understanding other health systems
Don’t miss the most important resource for citizen-targeted evidence about healthy aging:
Masterclass on patient-oriented research
The Forum’s masterclass was designed to prepare future champions for the conduct and use of patient-oriented research and future mentors to others becoming involved in the conduct and use of patient-oriented research. While we are not currently planning any sessions for the masterclass on patient-oriented research, you can access all of the course material to learn more about patient-oriented research.
Biennial Report - April 2021
The past two years have been unprecedented in many ways, creating new challenges and opportunities for the Forum. First, the government of Ontario initiated a large-scale health-system transformation, and the Forum pivoted quickly to establish Rapid-Improvement Support and Exchange (RISE) to support emerging Ontario Health Teams. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic led government policymakers to ask many urgent questions about all aspects of the COVID-19 response, and the Forum pivoted quickly to establish the COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END), with a global focus on enhancing coordination and reducing duplication in the evidence response to COVID-19 and a domestic focus on synthesizing and contextualizing the best available research evidence for Canadian decision-makers. Third, the COVID-19 pandemic required new ways of working, and the Forum pivoted quickly to hosting virtual versions of its stakeholder dialogues, citizen panels, and other engagement processes.
The Forum was able to move as far and as fast as it did because of its partnerships with groups that powerfully complement the Forum’s areas of strength. With RISE, for example, we partnered with Rob Reid and colleagues at Trillium Health Partners’ Institute for Better Health. With both RISE and COVID-END, we partnered with Jeremy Grimshaw and colleagues at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. With COVID-END global we partnered with more than 55 world-leading evidence-synthesis, technology assessment and guideline-development groups, and with COVID-END in Canada we partnered with the SPOR Evidence Alliance, Cochrane Canada, and more than 40 evidence-synthesis teams from across the country.
Through all of this work, the Forum maintained its focus on impacts, whether that involved: 1) helping OHTs achieve the quadruple-aim of improving care experiences and health outcomes while keeping providers engaged and per-capita costs manageable; 2) helping leaders around the world make evidence-informed decisions about COVID-19 related public health measures, clinical management, health-system arrangements, and economic and social responses; or 3) strengthening health systems and getting the right programs, services and products to those who need them.
Read more in our Biennial Report.
- McMaster Forum
