Why are statistics important?

What does our community look like? What are the needs in our community? What is the health status of our community? These are some of the questions that can be answered by analyzing health data.

The role of public health units in Ontario is to promote and protect the health of the population. They do this by delivering a variety of programs and services designed to improve the health of the citizens of Ontario. To assist with the planning and evaluating of these programs and services, health units assess the health needs of their local population through the analysis of data and other information. Health units play a vital role in keeping communities informed of key public health issues and the health status of their population. In Simcoe and Muskoka, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit provides this information through the HealthSTATS section of our website.

What is HealthSTATS?

The HealthSTATS section of the health unit's website contains data and information for use by public health, hospitals, clinics, local governments, schools, other community agencies and the general public. In many cases, this information is used to help plan services to improve the health of our community.

HealthSTATS is intended to serve as a resource to health and social service organizations, by providing information on the health of Simcoe Muskoka residents. Currently, HealthSTATS contains information on demographics and tobacco use. Over time, other topic areas such as reproductive health, lifestyles, the determinants of health, and the causes of disease and death, will be added. Provincial data are used for comparative purposes where available and appropriate.

These statistics are useful to the following target audiences:

• Key community partners such as municipalities, school boards, hospitals, public health agencies and medical professionals
• Media
• Students
• General public