The OnSPARK Data Platform: A Sector-Governed Infrastructure for Workforce Data for Planning and Quality Improvement in Long-Term Care

Authors: Michaella Miller, Jeff Poss, Jaimie Killingbeck, Arthur Sweetman, Andrew P Costa

Abstract

The Long-Term Care (LTC) sector in Canada faces persistent challenges in staffing, including limited data to support workforce planning, quality improvement, and policy evaluation. The OnSPARK Data Platform was established in 2023 as a sector-governed, province-wide infrastructure to address these challenges.

OnSPARK aggregates de-identified electronic health records from over 200 LTC homes in Ontario, representing approximately one-third of the sector. Many homes also submit shift-level payroll and scheduling-based staffing data to be linked to facility unit-level quality metrics. Near real-time, unit-level insights are provided through an interactive portal, while aggregated data support embedded research, performance benchmarking, and policy simulation.

This article introduces the structure and functionality of the OnSPARK platform, describes its unique approach to staffing data collection and use, and outlines its potential to generate operational, clinical, and policy-relevant insights. By enabling ongoing access to workforce and care data, OnSPARK supports a learning health system model that strengthens decision-making.