The applicability of the kinds of tools presented in this lecture goes beyond administrative data.  For example, complex models based on secondary analyses of surveys are becoming more popular.27,28

MCHP has used two full-time equivalent staff members over several years to establish and maintain these tools. This investment translates into greatly reduced maintenance costs and startup time associated with new research projects.

Cooperation among researchers and programmers has been facilitated by the ongoing usefulness of these tools in enhancing productivity. The pressure for producing timely deliverables and the opportunities for investigator-initiated research have heightened the need for management; these tools are critical to such efforts.  The modular design has served to efficiently relay information between analysts and researchers. 

The timeliness of the resource has also proven to be invaluable for teaching materials - within the centre, the university and in the Epidemiology Supercourse.29