A powerful new data collection and management platform called the Rick Hansen Institute Global Research Platform (RHI GRP) has been developed by our own in-house specialized IT team and has been in use in Registry sites since November 2011.

This platform allows participating sites to efficiently capture data using web-based forms that incorporate the Registry dataset.  These include international spinal cord injury standards such as the International Standards for Neurological Classification for Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI),  the international best practice for classifying neurological impairment. In future, the platform will be fully functional on handheld devices and tablets to allow direct input from clinicians.

In addition to Registry use, the platform will also be used as the collection tool for multi-centre clinical trials and other spine related studies.

Simplifying the process of coding very complex forms, and making them available online, is the overall goal of the platform. Entering data in the hospitals will become a much more logical process, as best practices in data flow, usability, and human interaction have been incorporated in the development. The ability for researchers to use local Registry data immediately, along with the prospect of data being collected in real time using state-of-the-art security and privacy protocols, are other important features of the platform.