CIHI Data Request Intake Form | Bridgit

The Challenge

Requesting data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) involves navigating a complex intake process that demands precision and completeness. Researchers, clinicians, and graduate students often struggle with understanding what information CIHI requires, how to structure their requests, and what forms of data are actually available for their specific research purposes. The challenge extends beyond simply knowing which form to fill out—you need to determine whether you're requesting aggregate data, record-level data, or pursuing data linkage, each with different requirements, timelines, and approval processes. Many requestors spend weeks clarifying their data needs, gathering institutional approvals, and revising submissions because critical information was missing or incorrectly formatted on their initial request. As CIHI notes, "Filling out and submitting CIHI's Data Inquiry Form will initiate the process to determine if the data you are looking for can be made available to you, and whether the data and your use of the data will be subject to any restrictions or agreements" — Queen's University Library. The manual coordination between your institution, your research ethics board, and CIHI's database team creates bottlenecks that delay access to the health information you need. Without a structured approach to capture all essential details upfront, you risk resubmissions, extended timelines, and uncertainty about whether your request will even be approved.

How CIHI Data Request Intake Form | Bridgit Helps

A comprehensive CIHI Data Request Intake Form streamlines this entire process by consolidating all essential information into a single, organized workflow. Rather than piecing together scattered requirements or guessing what CIHI needs, the form guides you through capturing the specific details that determine eligibility and approval: your research objectives, the data types you require, your institutional affiliations, ethics approvals, and the intended use of the data. The form's AI-powered analysis feature instantly evaluates your submission to identify gaps, missing documentation, or potential issues before you send it to CIHI, reducing the likelihood of rejection or revision requests. This approach aligns with CIHI's governance framework, which emphasizes structured data sharing agreements and consistent privacy processes. By organizing your request information upfront using the intake form's standard fields, you create a clear record that satisfies CIHI's requirements for de-identified record-level data, aggregate data, or specialized data linkage requests. The result is faster processing: instead of waiting for CIHI to request clarifications or corrections, your submission arrives complete and ready for evaluation. Institutions using structured intake workflows report significantly shorter turnaround times from initial inquiry to data access approval.

Key Benefits

• Capture all required information in one place—eliminating back-and-forth clarifications with CIHI and reducing request processing time from weeks to days
• AI-powered analysis identifies missing documentation or incomplete sections before submission, preventing costly resubmissions and revision cycles
• Support for multiple request types (aggregate data, record-level data, and data linkage) ensures you select the correct pathway for your research needs
• Built-in guidance on privacy requirements and data governance ensures your request complies with CIHI's de-identification standards and confidentiality agreements
• Instant results and structured data mean your research team can move from intake to data access approval faster, accelerating your project timeline

How It Works

The CIHI Data Request Intake Form operates through a series of logical sections that mirror CIHI's actual evaluation criteria. First, you specify your research objectives and identify the data elements you need—whether that's aggregate statistics, individual-level health records, or linked datasets across multiple sources. The form then captures your institutional context: your affiliation with a Canadian health facility, university, or research organization, along with your role and contact information. Next, you describe your intended use of the data, which determines whether your request qualifies under CIHI's research program and what restrictions or confidentiality agreements will apply. The form includes dedicated sections for research ethics board (REB) approval status and study protocol documentation—critical requirements that CIHI mandates before releasing data. As CIHI's guidelines specify, "Documentation required for requesting data" includes the appropriate form (Aggregate Data Request Form or Record-level Data Request Form) plus relevant agreements—the intake form ensures you gather this documentation systematically. You then detail your data security and access controls, demonstrating how you'll protect the de-identified information CIHI provides. The AI-powered analysis runs a final check across all sections, flagging incomplete fields, missing attachments, or logical inconsistencies. Once complete, the form generates a comprehensive submission package ready for CIHI review, with all required elements organized and properly formatted.

What You'll See

Preview of the workflow experience (click to enlarge)

Step 7

Final Output

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Frequently Asked Questions

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