ACTION: Mary-Anne Pietrusiak to revise
 

Health unit membership representation was reviewed. Representatives from City of Toronto, the North, East and Central South are not represented. In the Northern region, travel costs are a barrier. Mary-Anne will approach heath units where representatives are needed. Elizabeth Rael indicated that the Ministry of Health may be able to help with these costs.
 

ACTION: Mary-Anne Pietrusiak to approach appropriate health units & advise E. Rael re: support needed for northern units.
 

3. Statistics Canada and CIHI Indicators Project
Presentations were made by Jason Gilmore from Statistics Canada and Indira Pulcins from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Jason will identify who in each of the health units was sent the Health Regions EA Boundaries 2000 - CD-ROM product.
 

4. PHIWG=s Mandate: Revision, Addition, Coordination, Promotion:

4.1 Role of the Ministry: Elizabeth Rael expressed Ministry support of the indicator project. She requested that meeting cost estimates be sent to her prior to each meeting to assess for MOH support (re: travel and refreshments). She reviewed the ACommunity Health Centres (CHC) Indicators Project@ (handout provided). Feedback and input from the PHIWG into the CHC project is welcomed to help ensure overlap and relevance and build communication. Elizabeth reported the release of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System 2000, Health Canada Report. A Steering committee has been formed to address issues with the Office of the Registrar General. The concerns related to the quality of Vital Statistics birth data were expressed. Concerns expressed on access to Office of Registry General data. Elizabeth stressed need to prioritize list of priorities and concerns.
Issues identified by the PHIWG will be taken forward by Elizabeth. 

4.1.1 Revised Mandatory program: Elizabeth requested working group to review and identify, define indicators that are not measurable.

4.1.2 Mandatory Program Indicator Questionnaire: Elizabeth reported that a Technical Review Process is underway. Concerns and challenges include: accountability; what is measurable? what is reasonable? 

4.2 Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS): Presentation made by Brenda Guarda. The first RRFSS was conducted in 1999 in Durham Region with a focus primarily to collect lifestyle data. There is growing health unit interest and participation. A data dictionary is being developed to help identify how questions will be analyzed. Input is needed on issues related to data analysis.

4.3 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS): Presentation made by Carol Paul on the current status, upcoming surveys (handout), role of Ministry to obtain health unit data and means to obtain data raw (Statistics Canada website).

4.4 Revisions to the draft 1999 indicators: Mary-Anne reported that limited feedback was obtained from Round 1. Sherri Ennis to review website for feedback obtained. Subgroups to review the draft indicators to be established. 

5. Coordination with other projects:

5.1 Statistics Canada/CIHI: Jason Gilmore will be the Working Groups Statistics Canada contact to address questions related to health surveys and census data. Jason reported that data are available on the Stats Canada website. Indira Pulcins identified herself as the CIHI contact for health care utilization data.

5.2 Others: Manitoba Health: Mary-Anne reported that Manitoba Health is also developing health indicators. She will contact Manitoba Health for a status update and circulate appropriate material if appropriate.

Sherri Ennis reported that the Ontario Hospital Association is developing clinical health indicators. Also, the District Health Councils are also interested in developing health indicators. The importance of coordinating and liaising with the DHCs was stressed.

6. Promotion of indicators project: Members discussed ways to promote the project. Target audiences identified included: health unit program staff, DHCs, HIUs, Health Canada, Statistics Canada, CIHI.

Short articles to familiarize readers with the project and use of the indicators and regular updates was recommended. As well, the value of conducting workshops on use of the indicators was discussed. Conducting workshops at the Branch educational days was suggested as a means to reach the public health unit audience. 

7. Work Assignments:

Mary-Anne will oversee and direct the project. Individuals were identified to review and provide recommendations for revisions to the 1999 November draft indicators as follows. Working sub-group to provide Mary-Anne with a realistic time frame to review and identify changes by February 28, 2001. 

Working group members are as follows: 
1. Introduction: Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
2. Population: Sherri Ennis, Brenda Guarda, Carol Paul
3. Environment and Health