The latest report from the Population Health Analytics Laboratory, “Predicting high healthcare resource utilization in Ontario, 2013/14 – 2018/2019,” is now available. The report, which was created in collaboration with the Health System Performance Research Network (HSPRN), describes predicted trends for high healthcare resource utilization in Ontario. The findings are based on analyses using Ontario’s new High Resource User Population Risk Tool (HRUPoRT), which was developed and validated by Rosella et al. (2018) using widely available population health survey data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).
HRUPoRT was used to estimate predicted rates of high resource users (HRU) according to Ontario public health unit boundaries, and to characterize predicted HRUs according to sociodemographic risk factors and behavioural characteristics. The report shows large geographic variation in HRUs across Ontario. According to the analyses, this variation can be attributed to many socioeconomic, demographic and behavioural factors which vary by geography.
The report demonstrates the utility of using population-level predictive modelling to inform public health and health care system activities. Predictive tools such as HRUPoRT can be useful for health system stakeholders with an interest in health system planning and decision-making. To increase applicability, the tool uses data from the CCHS which is available to users at community, regional and provincial levels.
Individuals or groups wishing to access HRUPoRT SAS or Stata code may contact the Population Health Analytics Lab.