The OnSPARK Data Platform: A Sector-Governed Infrastructure for Workforce Data for Planning and Quality Improvement...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Informatics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Canadian Long-Term Care (LTC) sector faces significant staffing challenges impacting workforce planning and quality.
• Limited data availability hinders effective decision-making, policy evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives within the LTC sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the OnSPARK Data Platform, a novel infrastructure designed to address LTC staffing data challenges.
• To describe the platform's structure, functionality, and unique approach to data aggregation and utilization.
• To outline the potential of OnSPARK in generating actionable insights for operational, clinical, and policy-level improvements.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a sector-governed, province-wide data infrastructure (OnSPARK) in 2023.
• Aggregation of de-identified electronic health records from over 200 LTC homes in Ontario.
• Integration of shift-level payroll and scheduling data with facility unit-level quality metrics.

Main Results:

• OnSPARK provides near real-time, unit-level insights via an interactive portal.
• Aggregated data facilitate embedded research, performance benchmarking, and policy simulation.
• The platform enables comprehensive analysis of workforce and care data.

Conclusions:

• OnSPARK offers a robust solution to LTC staffing data challenges in Canada.
• The platform supports a learning health system model by strengthening data-driven decision-making.
• OnSPARK has the potential to significantly enhance operational efficiency, clinical care, and policy development in the LTC sector.