Dr. Noah Crampton
Project lead
Noah Crampton, MD, MSc, CCFP, Family Physician, Lecturer and Clinician Investigator, Toronto Western Family Health Team, University Health Network, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
Project location
Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton, Eastern Ontario) and British Columbia
Project summary
An effective response to COVID-19 requires access to real-time information on disease spread and its community impact.
Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) use EMR data to answer community-focused health care questions and translate findings into practice, a critically important function during the pandemic. Historically, uploading data to PBRNs is time-consuming, costly, and infrequent.
To enhance the speed at which PBRNs can access EMR data, Dr. Noah Crampton and partners leveraged new technology to develop a software tool that allows for the daily, automated, privacy-compliant upload to PBRNs.
This innovation will directly support researchers to map pressing needs of COVID-19 hotspots to support testing, vaccination, and mental supports. Long-term health applications will include understanding how the pandemic is affecting communities across the country, which will inform local and national responses to future COVID-19 waves or other pandemics.
For more information on this project, its partners and collaborators.