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Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is CPCSSN?
CPCSSN (pronounced "sipsin") stands for Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network. CPCSSN is Canada's first multi-disease electronic record surveillance system. Essentially, CPCSSN can be thought of as a library of digital information on health; specifically a database on chronic diseases.

How does CPCSSN work?
As keepers of patient information, a group of select family doctors across the country have agreed to allow CPCSSN to collect information about their patients from their electronic databases. Data that is accessed is processed so that the personal information about the patients is removed; identifying information will not leave the doctors’ office. The information is first sent to one of the regional centres to be possessed and put in the proper form. It is then sent to the central database to be combined with information from all the other regional centres in Canada.

 Why is CPCSSN important?
Chronic diseases are on the rise in Canada. Research has shown that one in three Canadians has a chronic health condition, such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. At the same time, there is strong support in Canada to have family physicians use electronic medical records to maintain information about their patients. There has never been a better time for CPCSSN to improve the lives of Canadians living with chronic diseases. Furthermore, it is CPCSSN’s objective to help our health-care system become more sustainable.

Why is CPCSSN innovative?
Information about the care of chronic disease patients across Canada is mainly untapped. The records of primary care doctors have not been readily accessible yet primary care is where most of the medical care of people with chronic disease occurs. It is necessary to access and report this vital health information to improve the way we manage chronic disease.

What difference will CPCSSN make to the lives of Canadians?
The information gathered will help physicians better understand chronic disease and improve the care Canadians with chronic disease receive. It is expected that CPCSSN will share information and reports with governments, physicians, nurses and other healthcare team members, researchers, and planners to improve primary health care.

What is one example of the research that could be done with the information?
For example, the data could be used to provide differences in disease rates, like arthritis, in the populations of Alberta, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces to better understand the need for health resources in different regions.

Is patient information safe?
CPCSSN is designed to ensure that patient and physician data is secure. All patient information is de-identified, which means information that identifies patients does not leave the doctor’s office. The collection and combination of health information will provide safe and secure learning opportunities to improve the health care delivered to the individuals who make up the CPCSSN database as well as Canadians as a whole.

Why is CPCSSN a good investment?
CPCSSN is an efficient and important investment. Sharing information will allow the Canadian health-care system to more efficiently care for Canadians with chronic disease. Furthermore, sharing information will help Canadians receive more value out of the large investments in electronic medical records that are being made across Canada.

What are the benefits to doctors for joining CPCSSN?
The benefits to doctors who join CPCSSN include feedback reports to practices and individual physicians, continuing Professional Development hours from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and help to improve the health of their patients and all Canadians.

Who are the other partners for CPCSSN?

CPCSSN is a joint program of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. CPCSSN also works with the Canadian Institute of Health Information. This new collaboration brings together public health and primary care for the benefit of Canadians and their health-care system.