If you have had a recent visit to Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), you may have been asked to complete a survey called the “We Ask Because We Care” Health Equity Data Survey.
This survey helps the hospital set strategic priorities and improvement plans. It is also aligned with the Excellent Care for All Act (2010).
This page contains information about this survey, the types of questions included in the survey and the purpose of collecting this information.
For questions or further assistance, please contact Patient Registration.
Health equity means that every person has a fair and equitable chance to get the same high-quality healthcare. It means everyone has the opportunity to receive care regardless of factors such as their race, gender, education and income.
The “We Ask Because We Care” Health Equity Data Survey is a short survey that asks questions about your background such as your race, gender, the language you speak and your income. Your answers help us learn more about you so that we can improve our healthcare services.
The survey should only take 5 to 7 minutes to complete.
The information you give us will help the hospital understand your needs and identify where there are gaps in the care and services we provide. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned that it would be easier for our community members to get their vaccines if we set up vaccination clinics in East York.
For more information, please see Ontario Health’s Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism Framework, which provides options for translating the core questions into other languages.
The information you give us will help us enhance and improve the care we provide and shows us where more services are needed. For example, we learned that low-income patients and patients who do not speak English had lower screening rates for a particular type of cancer. We were then able to develop a program to help improve those cancer screening rates.
Knowing our patients’ race and background can help us provide culturally appropriate and responsive care. For example, a patient who is new to Canada may not speak either of our official languages (English and French) and may need extra help while at the hospital. This information can help us understand what kind of help people need.
You can find more information about why we collect this data in Mount Sinai Hospital's Participant Manual (page 9).
No, you do not have to fill out this survey. The survey is voluntary. However, your participation will help us improve our services so that we can provide the best care possible.
Nothing will happen if you choose not to take part in this survey. Your care will not be affected in any way.
If you have already completed this survey once in the past, you will not be prompted to fill it out again for another three years.
No, you do not have to answer every question. You can skip any questions you are uncomfortable answering.
Yes, your answers will be kept private. The hospital follows privacy laws and will use a secure system to make sure your information stays private.
You can either bring your completed survey to the Registration Desk on the day of your appointment or you can use the QR code in your welcome package to submit it electronically.
If you have questions about how to complete your survey, please contact Patient Registration.
For other questions about survey questions or this project in general, please visit the Measuring Health Equity site.
