AREAS OF SERVICES

YCK  Research  Group  offers consulting services in collaboration with teams on a broad range of health policy, health and social services, and health economics issues. As health and social policy advisors, we are recognized for high performance and are deadline-driven, delivering your project report on time and on budget. We welcome the opportunity to work with community leaders and decision-makers, and to partner with non-governmental and international development agencies. We adhere to the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Research Ethics. We develop customized research solutions for our clients by conducting statistical analyses, econometric modelling and evaluation, predictive modelling, data mining, information gathering, and health economic exploration to support evidence-based report writing. YCK Research Group is a member of the Canadian Health Human Resources Network, the Ontario Health Human Resource Network, and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Our areas of research specialization, the population subgroups we work with, and the services we offer are as follows:

Research Areas

Research Areas

A combination of the following health-related studies informs the development of evidence-based health policy.

Privacy Culture:

Evaluating the trade-offs involved in establishing a privacy-conscious environment within an organization. The setting could range from child welfare and healthcare to the private sector. It consists of developing a comprehensive privacy manual that includes a privacy policy, safeguards (administrative, physical, and technical), consent management forms, protocols for privacy breaches, lockbox procedures, notices of information practices, procedures for access and correction requests of personal data, and training staff to understand and implement these measures.

Canadian privacy laws and Ontario health privacy laws:

E.g. federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Ontario’s Part X of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CFYSA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and other provincial healthcare privacy laws, private/public sector, and children's privacy.

Social determinants of health:

Are particular social and economic factors that affect people’s health within the broader scope of health determinants. They relate to a person’s societal position, including income, housing, food insecurity, early childhood development, education, or employment.

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA):

Using a risk management tool that demonstrates privacy due diligence by providing specific recommendations to decision-makers on the privacy implications of projects, services, and technologies that involve individuals’ information. It also ensures legal compliance by mapping data flows and implementing safeguards, underscoring a commitment to transparency, accountability, and personal data protection. The PIA helps prevent harm to individuals and costly breaches for organizations, providing essential information for making informed decisions about advancing such projects, services, or technologies.

Development of Artificial Intelligence policy:

That covers all necessary safeguards in responsible AI use in line with the relevant legislation, e.g. Enhancing Digital Security and Trust Act, 2024 (EDSTA) or other jurisdictional AI acts.

Health economics:

The study of health economics and the healthcare system, using tools from various fields of economics, including labour market economics, econometrics, public finance, and industrial organization. These tools inform health policy by enhancing the assessment of behaviour, value, efficiency, and effectiveness in the consumption and production of health and health care services. Topics include insurance and financing schemes, sector payment models, determinants of health outcomes, tax policy, health-related behaviours, and equity in health and healthcare.

Health human resources:

Also known as human resources for health, health workforce, or healthcare providers whose primary goal is to improve health. This field of research also examines the health status and factors affecting the health of care providers to increase satisfaction and productivity.

Health services research:

An interdisciplinary field that examines healthcare access, utilization, financing, and expenditures among diverse population groups, and also considers the perspectives of social science and institutions (including social determinants of health) in the provision of healthcare services that impact care outcomes, the quantity and quality of life, the cost of care, and overall health policy.

Healthcare quality improvement:

Healthcare organizations are accountable for meeting quality improvement standards by improving the quality of care to impact the health outcomes of patients, clients, and residents, as well as the practice standards of healthcare providers. Consequently, these quality improvement actions, through the structures and processes implemented, also impact organizational and system outcome indicators.

Health outcomes research:

Fields of research that seek to link treatments, interventions, or clinical practices to outcomes, determining what works and what does not work in healthcare. With this, providers can appreciate the factors influencing patients’ satisfaction and quality of life, as well as gaps in quality of care across public health and other sectors. There is also the rapidly growing field of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), often found in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, which involves health technology assessment (HTA).

The intersection of health and the environment.​

Health and food & agriculture: research into the nexus of health and environmental policies, as well as health and agriculture, to enhance understanding of policy impacts, agricultural experts, farmers, health care providers, and health outcomes among population subgroups.

Populations We Work With

This group includes people from different age groups, visible minorities, and aging populations, as well as health workers and patients with chronic or acute conditions. It also encompasses healthcare organizations involved in delivering medical care and services.

  • Different age groups
  • Visible minorities
  • Aging populations
  • Health workers
  • Chronic and acute patients
  • Healthcare organizations

SERVICES

  • Health and Social Policy analysis
  • Program evaluation and/or health economic evaluations
  • Continuous Quality Improvement/Performance measurement studies
  • Literature reviews
  • Statistical analysis
  • Econometric modelling and evaluation
  • Data segmentation and visualization of customers, clients, patients, and residents
  • Utilize finance and economics expertise in customized survey analyses for organizations
  • Predictive modeling
  • Information gathering
  • Data mining using statistical programming
  • Report writing
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FAQs

YCK Research Group provides consulting in health policy, health economics, privacy, social services, and health systems research. Our expertise includes privacy impact assessments, AI policy development, healthcare utilization and financing, health human resources, economic evaluations, quality improvement, and mixed-methods research.

Our clients include government policymakers, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, community leaders, healthcare institutions, and international development agencies seeking evidence-based policy and program support.

We apply quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research approaches. Our work includes statistical analysis, econometric modelling, predictive modelling, data mining, literature reviews, program evaluation, and health economic analysis.

Yes. We conduct comprehensive Privacy Impact Assessments to identify risks, ensure compliance with Canadian and Ontario privacy legislation (including PIPEDA and PHIPA), and develop safeguards to protect personal information.

Yes. We support organizations in developing responsible AI policies aligned with relevant legislation and ethical standards, ensuring proper governance, transparency, and data protection.

We work with diverse population groups, including visible minorities, Indigenous communities, aging populations, health workers, children, working-age adults, and individuals in acute and chronic health states.

We adhere to the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Research Ethics and follow rigorous methodological standards. Our work emphasizes transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.

You may submit your research question along with available data and a brief description of your project. We will conduct an initial feasibility assessment and provide a proposal outlining scope, timeline, and market-based fees.