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The CommunityView Collaboration Launch June 14th, 2011!
On June 14th the Saskatoon and region web-based community information system -- the CommunityView Collaboration was launched. We marked the event at the Saskatoon Public School Division Office.
Click here to view details.
There was a system overview and demonstration of the site and a few words from our Mayor, the President and CEO of the Health Region, the Chief Medical Health Officer, the Chief of Police, the United Way and a Co-chair of the Saskatoon Regional Inter-sectoral Committee. Following the presentations there was a 1.5 hour hands-on system orientation for those who wanted to learn more about the system.
Following the launch, the CommunityView Collaboration website became a publicly available resource at www.communityview.ca
We are glad you could join us!
What is the CommunityView Collaboration?
Why are we developing the CommunityView Collaboration?
Benefits of the CommunityView Collaboration
Potential uses of the CommunityView Collaboration Data
What is the CommunityView Collaboration?
Public Health Observatory of Saskatoon Health Region is mandated to facilitate the development of a comprehensive community information system that is seen as a key tool to support local decision-making for a variety of human service providers. This Information System (CommunityView Collaboration) will enable strategic decision-makers to identify and prioritize population needs, configure human service systems, promote cross-sectoral partnerships for health improvement, and evaluate and monitor service utilization and program outcomes. A key component of the CommunityView Collaboration (CVC) vision is the linkable (relational) database, which assembles data from multiple sources, throughout the human service sector, and which is supported by appropriate information technologies and tools for end-user analysis including the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS).
The CommunityView Collaboration is envisioned as a network of databases across agencies and sectors containing information that can be used at a population level. It is seen as a partnership across sectors where all members contribute to and access data appropriate to their needs.
Why are we developing the CommunityView Collaboration?
Increasingly, human service providers find they need better tools for planning and decision making to increase efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. In order for information to be useful for this purpose, it needs to be timely, relevant and available in sufficient detail in a flexible manner to decision makers and planners. Information technology is being enthusiastically seen as a critical tool for addressing these needs of service providers.
Technological innovations combined with data are being sought for meeting various needs such as health status and quality of life assessments, integrated planning, programmatic decision-making, evaluation of outcomes and targets, and dissemination and communication. Data output needs to be customized according to the user (administrator, manager, staff, public) and according to intended use (planning, evaluation, report, research) using hard copy or via intranet or internet. Data can be presented in tables, charts, graphs, or maps to make output more understandable and relevant to local contexts.
As virtually all provinces in Canada move to either decentralized or devolved governance of human services, the need for reliable and relevant information at the local level for decision-making has become greater than ever. The information is needed for a variety of regional decision-making functions, such as local planning, setting priorities, allocating resources, and managing and delivering services. It is more desirable if the information is generated locally, and managed or controlled locally.
What will be the benefits of the CommunityView Collaboration?
- CVC will enhance strategic decision-making by improving the quality of data used, expanding the breadth of relevant data available, and presenting information in an easily understandable manner;
- CVC will facilitate the use of evidence in planning and delivery of services by making information directly available (e.g., on-line) to key staff members in all participating sectors;
- CVC will ensure consistent, timely, and efficient data delivery by assembling and managing a single repository which incorporates a variety of sources and elements of data;
- CVC will increase staff skills in the analysis, interpretation, and application of information in planning by providing training in the principles of data use, attributes of the database, and analysis tools;
- CVC will promote partnerships within and among human service organizations by sharing data, information and other resources;
- CVC will contribute to the research literature by conducting studies and communicating findings of original research
CVC itself will not make policy decisions, but will notably enhance the factual basis for each participating organization or agency for decisions regarding planning, allocation of resources, what services to provide, and what research areas to pursue.
What are the potential uses of the CommunityView Collaboration data?
The potential uses of CVC are many, ranging from health status and quality of life monitoring, aiding in needs assessment and all other stages of a planning cycle, to research, broadly defined. Correspondingly, the potential users of information produced by Community View also are many and varied. Because of this diverse audience, the system will need to be user-friendly and flexible.
Tabular data may be presented in pivot tables to enable users to customize their view of the data, and allow for custom queries and reports of the database, depending on the level of access of the individual. A Geographic Information System (GIS) will be part of the system and will allow this data to be viewed and analyzed geographically.
Some users will need to have the limitations of specific data types explained and the meaning of the information interpreted, while others will be able to do independent analysis of the data. Depending on the audience, a varied degree of interpretation and explanation will be provided with the data.
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