What's new in this issue

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Coinciding with this issue, CIHI and Statistics Canada are releasing the print publication (Health Indicators 2008) highlighting the most recently available information about the health system and the health of the population in Canada’s health regions, provinces and territories. In addition, a selection of measures of health status and the non-medical determinants of health are included in this report. Beginning with 2007, the Health Indicators report series also include interpretive analyses of selected indicators (In Focus chapter). These analyses are aimed to assist in the use and interpretation of the data by highlighting key patient characteristics and other factors that relate to variation in the rates. This year the report highlights Ambulatory care sensitive conditions hospitalization rates.

The Highlights section of this publication, now visible in the left hand sidebar, provides links to analytical articles of interest, including the Health Indicators reports from CIHI, as well as Health Report and Daily articles related to the CCHS release from Statistics Canada.

This issue announces the release of latest data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), which is a source for many indicators. A new CCHS indicator profile table provides health region level data keying on 20 ‘core’ variables. Indicators based on 2006 Census data released to date are also offered at the health region level. See the Health indicator profiles section to access these.

Starting from this year CIHI is publishing data for many more regions than previously. Health regions with a population of at least 50,000 will be featured in the printed report as well as the Health Indicators e-Publication. In addition, a selected set of indicators for health regions with a population ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 will be added to the e-Publication. Previously, CIHI indicators were reported only for regions with a population of at least 75,000.

New data tables

CIHI is adding a new indicator for fiscal year 2006/07 i.e. cardiac revascularization rate. This indicator complements the existing reporting of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) by providing a measure of rates to represent total activity for these two interventions used to improve blood flow to the heart muscle of cardiac revascularization in a jurisdiction.

• Cardiac revascularization rate 2006/2007 (CIHI)
• Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) (2006 revision) 2006/2007 (CIHI)

Beginning with 2006–2007 the definition of ACSC indicator was revised. Rates for the previous years using the new definition were calculated to enable comparisons over time.