Table 1:

ICES databases and data elements accessed

DatabaseDescriptionData obtained
National Ambulatory Care Reporting SystemOutpatient data:
Same-day surgery, emergency department and clinic visits in hospital and community settings in Ontario

  • Main diagnosis code

  • Intervention codes

  • Visit disposition

  • Date of service

Ontario Health Insurance PlanBilling data:
Records of all claims for insured services made to the health plan

  • Fee codes

  • Diagnosis codes

  • Date of service

ICES Physician DatabasePhysician data:
Demographic characteristics, training, practice location, and specialty.

  • Physician type/specialty

  • Year of medical graduation

Ontario Health Care Institution DatabaseHospital data

  • Hospital type

Registered Persons DatabaseIdentification data:
Demographic characteristics, ability to link other data and ongoing eligibility to receive insurance coverage

  • Patient age

  • Patient sex

  • Rurality of residence

  • Insurance eligibility

CensusGeneral data:
Demographic characteristics, ethnicity, income, housing conditions, family structure and spoken languages from households across Canada

  • Deprivation quintile

Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract DatabaseInpatient data:
Admissions, diagnoses and interventions

  • Intervention codes

  • Comorbidities

  • Hospital admission

Ontario Cancer RegistryCancer data:
Cancer diagnoses in Ontario residents

  • Comorbidities