The deployment of RHSCIR is being spearheaded by the Rick Hansen Institute using a phased approach that relies on partnerships with participating sites—SCI acute care and rehabilitation centres across Canada—to achieve status as a pan-Canadian Registry program. With the privacy framework established, the national rollout of RHSCIR was resumed, supported by industry standard Data Sharing Agreements integrated with agreements providing each of 14 participating sites with funding to resource the RHSCIR project with a research coordinator for a period of two years. Execution of the Data Sharing Agreements between the Rick Hansen Institute and participating RHSCIR sites ensures an appropriate accountability framework is in place for the sharing of personal health information among RHSCIR sites.

RHSCIR is operational in several provinces, including Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia, and will soon be expanded to sites in Quebec and Newfoundland. We are also exploring new partnerships in the Atlantic provinces and the northern territories.