Southwestern Ontario Network (SWON)

The Department of Family Medicine is pleased to announce the formal designation of its Departmental Practice-Based Learning and Research Network as the Southwestern Ontario Network (SWON).

For more information, please contact SWON by emailing:  swon@schulich.uwo.ca

Our Purpose

SWON supports family physicians as they conduct primary care research and quality improvement, giving them the opportunity to work with patients, clinicans, and researchers to generate and apply research that is grounded in everyday practice.  

 

 Cassandra Schutz

Dr. Cassandra Schulz
Clinical Lead, Southwestern Ontario Network

 Cathy Thorpe

Cathy Thorpe
Research Coordinator, Southwestern Ontario Network
Research Associate-Manager, Centre for Studies in Family Medicine

Our Goal

To transform our broad clinical insights into practical improvements in health care delivery, patient outcomes, and sustainability of the health care system.

What is a Practice-Based Learning and Research Network (PBLRN)?

Groups of primary care clinicians working together to answer community-based health care questions and translate research findings into practice. PBLRNs use de-identified EMR data to answer questions such as:
  • Identifying problems in everyday practice
  • Demonstrating whether treatments of proven efficacy are truly effective
  • Providing the “laboratory” for testing system improvements in practice

What is POPLAR?

SWON and six other Practice-Based Learning and Research Networks from across Ontario have partnered to work effectively and increase our impact. Together, we form the Primary Care Ontario Learning and Research (POPLAR) Network. Electronic Medical Record data from patients who are receiving care from healthcare professionals in these networks will be combined, creating a valuable resource to support primary care research, quality improvement, and healthcare planning.
 

Interested in Joining?

Please contact Cassandra or Cathy at: swon@schulich.uwo.ca

 

We would like to thank the PBLRN Working Group for all of their contributions in developing the Southwestern Ontario Network. Thank you Scott McKay, Sonny Cejic, Leslie Meredith, Cathy Thorpe, Craig Mara, Tom Freeman, Saadia Jan, Anna Pawelec-Brzychczy, Nuala Marshall, Stephen Wetmore, Amanda Terry and Bridget Ryan.