Since 2005, ICES has been able to make administrative health data available (under appropriate conditions) to scientists who work at sites outside of ICES Central. In 2006, ICES proposed to the Ministry of Health that additional ICES sites be established. The Ministry endorsed the principles of increasing access to high quality data for researchers and building capacity for policy-relevant health services research, and in 2007 the ICES Queen’s site was launched.
The sites create a local community of scientists and staff to pursue research aligning with the ICES mission using ICES’ administrative data. This network of sites has expanded the capacity of ICES to conduct research that contributes to the effectiveness, quality, equity and efficiency of healthcare and health services in Ontario. The sites create a province-wide ICES community, and increase the number of scientists and the breadth of scientific expertise available.
