For discussion: a roadmap for population-based information systems to enhance primary healthcare in Canada.

The purpose of this paper is to promote expansion of population-based information systems to enhance primary healthcare renewal (PHC) across Canada. The vision is to ensure that healthcare policy makers, managers and clinical leaders receive relevant, valid and timely information that is useful to them in exercising their responsibilities in accountability and performance improvement. The paper sketches a roadmap of options for new information systems and describes the opportunities and limitations associated with each. The intent is to offer an array of alternatives for consideration because jurisdictions vary in their vision and objectives for renewal and priorities for information.