Creating a direct and powerful link between research and medical practice

Currently, for both clinical and health research, researchers must consult vast sets of administrative and clinical data. The multiple steps required to retrieve all the relevant data results in significant delays and inevitably leading to an increase in costs. Moreover, each new project often requires a repetition of these same steps.

One of the objectives of IRIS-Quebec is to facilitate access to complete information thereby eliminating several of the factors which slow down the research process. The infrastructure will make it possible to automate the process of acquiring and storing data from the various sources allowing researchers more direct access. Most importantly, new technologies will be used to ensure that information is obtained using a process that conforms to current ethical standards while ensuring the privacy, confidentiality, and security of personal health information.

IRIS-Quebec is implementing a plan of action that includes three features:

• deployment of a complete and integrated infrastructure;
• creation of a powerful and user-friendly "query" database;
• the development of electronic patients records which will be used both for clinical and research purposes.