Primary Health Care System
RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Applied Health Research Questions

Development of primary care strategy to address the gaps and needs of sub-regional LHIN hubs
Principal investigator/co-investigators:
Co-PI Simone Dahrouge, PhD, Scientific Director at Bruyere Research Institute
Co-PI Jacques Lemelin MD, Primary Care Lead at Champlain LHIN
Co-I William Hogg MD, Senior Academic Advisor and Scientist, BRI
Co-I Clare Liddy MD, Clinician Scientist BRI

Abstract:
There are several sub-regional Hubs within the Champlain LHIN. Preliminary data suggests that the Primary Care (PC) strengths and weaknesses of these regions differ. We are performing a gap analysis of each sub-region using Heath Administrative Data (HAD). That data will be used to establish the top priorities and determine the most appropriate Quality Improvement Initiatives (QIIs) for each Hub. We will use our newly created partnership with the LHIN officials and the local primary practices (which are forming Primary Care Networks within each sub-region) to carry these activities. By doing this we hope to inform each region as to the best areas for improvement and improve the overall quality of primary care in the Champlain region

Key Messages:
We propose the development of a primary care strategy based on a gap analysis and needs assessment of Institute for Evaluative and Clinical Sciences (ICES) data for each sub-regional Hub within the Champlain LHIN. This will allow us to understand issues of accessibility, care integration and quality of chronic care within each region. Additionally, it will enable us to provide sub-regional Hubs with appropriate health care targets. We can then evaluate these outcomes for further reform. Based on this analysis we will also be able understand how the different primary care models (i.e. FFS, capitation, salary) perform in each Hub, so as to inform the most appropriate interventions. A Local Quality Improvement Initiative (LQII) that is evidence informed, responsive to the needs of the community, acceptable to the practitioners and of relevance and feasible to the decision makers in expected to elicit greater engagement from all parties and be more likely to achieve its goals.

ICES data from the gap analysis will be distributed to all members of the collaborative, LHIN officials, and researchers. This will provide all members with specific target objectives and accountability measures for each Hub. This will in turn provide all members, including decision makers for the region, with the ability to see where new initiatives are needed and initiate the steps to see that the necessary action is taken. By involving the decision makers in this process we are positioning ourselves for success as well as a more maintainable and substantial network.

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