Alliance members have consistently been leaders when it comes to collecting and using sociodemographic data to advance health equity. CHCs in Ontario began doing this over 20 years ago. In 2024, Alliance members led the province in adopting adopted a new Health Equity Questionnaire with updated questions and response options. This questionnaire uses current language to described to gender identity and sexuality, allows clients to select multiple response options when applicable, and includes several optional questions about social need. To learn more about this questionnaire, check out the launch webinar recording and slide deck.
# Documentation and EMR Integration
The documents linked below can help your organization improve the completeness, quality, and usability of your clients' sociodemographic data:
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about sociodemographic data collection.
- Implementation Guide - see Appendix A (starts on p. 38) for the full questionnaire.
- Customizable client brochure/FAQ (download)
- Healthcare provider script (with background information, questions, and response options)
- Interactive script (with client questions and staff responses)
- Summary list of questions indicating mandatory/optional status.
Additional documentation and tools to to support integration of the Health Equity Questionnaire into the TELUS PS Suite EMR are available to Alliance member organizations through our Data Management Coordinators' SharePoint portal. Please note that you will need a username and password to access them; please contact BIRT@AllianceON.org to get one.
# RALI-SDD: A Quality Improvement Program for Sociodemographic Data Collection
Rapid Action Learning Intensive (RALI) is a self-directed learning tool designed by the Alliance to support spread and scale of successful change ideas discovered in our learning collaboratives. Participating teams get access to online modules, a workbook, curated external resources, and the dedicated support of an Alliance Quality Improvement Coach.
RALI for Sociodemographic Data (RALI-SDD) guides primary health care teams through the implementation of a validated process for collecting high-quality, useable sociodemographic data; properly inputting it in their EMR; and using EMR data for testing and learning. You can learn more about RALI-SDD here. To participate, email QI@AllianceON.org.