Research

IHPME is a leader in research that will make our health care system efficient, effective and sustainable.

Approximately $6 million in research grants flows through the Institute each year, supporting a broad range of research at the clinical, organizational and systems levels.

Research areas include:

• system design
• performance management
• comparative health systems
• health services research
• health policy and health economics
• quality improvement
• patient safety
• observational and decision sciences research
• clinical trials, and
• knowledge transfer.

The Institute's strong research program provides a rich and stimulating environment for the large number of masters and doctoral students, and postdoctoral fellows, training within the Institute.

Committed to a Collaborative Approach

The Institute's research excellence is enhanced by its commitment to creating successful collaborations across the University of Toronto, other universities and hospital-based research institutes. IHPME’s national and international research reputation results in projects and collaborations that span regional, national and global contexts.

Research initiatives are further strengthened by the participation of experts, providers and policy-makers from a wide variety of sectors. This approach facilitates the immediate application of research findings in various health care contexts where the impact on health outcomes can be assessed and monitored.

Examples of current collaborations in which IHPME researchers are leaders or co-leaders include:

• The Toronto Health Economics and Technology (THETA) Collaborative is an interdisciplinary research collaborative that supports effective health policy through research, training and the provision of decision support to government.
• The Health System Performance Research Network is an interdisciplinary research group focused on measuring system performance across the hospital, complex continuing care, long term care and home/community care sectors.
• Health Care, Technology, and Place is an international, interdisciplinary research and training collaborative exploring the ways new technology is reshaping the health care landscape, with a particular focus on health technology assessment.
• The Canadian Research Network for Care in the Community is a dynamic partnership of researchers, providers, policy-makers, and consumers supporting research and knowledge transfer in the area of home and community care.
• The CIHR Team in Community Care and Health Human Resources is an interdisciplinary partnership between researchers and community partners exploring the shift between hospital and home/community, with particular attention to health human resources, and the feasibility and consequences of alternative care models for vulnerable populations.