Informing Primary Care Changes in Alberta: Continuity and Potential Impacts on Acute Care

Shelly Vik; Colin Weaver; Ceara Cunningham; Robin Walker; Richard Lewanczuk; Brad Bahler; Rob Skrypnek; Michelle Smekel; Linda Winfield; Judy Seidel

doi:10.12927/hcq.2019.25907

Informing Primary Care Changes in Alberta: Continuity and Potential Impacts on Acute Care

Healthc Q. 2019 Jul;22(2):32-38. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2019.25907.

Authors

Shelly Vik¹, Colin Weaver², Ceara Cunningham³, Robin Walker⁴, Richard Lewanczuk⁵, Brad Bahler⁶, Rob Skrypnek⁷, Michelle Smekel⁸, Linda Winfield⁹, Judy Seidel¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ An epidemiologist and scientist with Primary Health Care, Applied Research and Evaluation Services (ARES) at Alberta Health Services and holds an adjunct assistant professor appointment at the University of Calgary.
² currently completing a doctorate in community health sciences with a specialization in biostatistics at the University of Calgary and works with Alberta Health Services as a senior analyst.
³ A scientist and assistant scientific director for the Primary Health Care Integration Network at Alberta Health Services, as well as an adjunct assistant professor, who supports health services research related to primary healthcare.
⁴ holds an adjunct assistant professor position and works as a scientist for the Applied Research and Evaluation Services division of the Primary Health Care Program at Alberta Health Services.
⁵ has supported the provincial Primary Health Care department at Alberta Health Services (AHS) as the senior medical director for 10 years and is currently leading the AHS Enhancing Care in the Community strategy.
⁶ A practising family physician in rural Alberta who also works in partnership with multiple groups, including Alberta Health Services, the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta College of Family Physicians, as an advocate for quality improvement and system redesign initiatives related to primary care.
⁷ The senior provincial director of the Primary Health Care department within Alberta Health Services and works in partnership with multiple organizations, such as Alberta Health and the Alberta Medical Association, to facilitate strategies targeted at improving primary healthcare integration in Alberta.
⁸ A patient who has experienced multiple interactions with the health system over the years while managing congenital heart disease and Crohn's disease and acts as an advisor for Alberta Health Services initiatives through the Digestive Health Strategic Clinical Network™, Patient Engagement Reference Group (PERG).
⁹ has more than two decades of experience working in nursing and as a nurse educator and is currently a member of the Patient Engagement Reference Group (PERG), Patient Advisor Sleep Disorders Working Group, as a volunteer with Alberta Health Services.
¹⁰ The scientific director for the Primary Health Care Integration Network and for the Applied Research and Evaluation Services (ARES) division of the Primary Health Care Program at Alberta Health Services and leads a group of scientists and senior analysts at AHS that support the evidence base to inform health system design with a focus on primary healthcare and service access.

PMID: 31556377
DOI: 10.12927/hcq.2019.25907

Abstract

Health systems across Canada are embarking on initiatives to enhance access to primary care services, with the intent of improving patient outcomes and mitigating escalating healthcare costs. However, it is important that such initiatives be carefully weighed with the evidence that the changes will indeed have the desired impact. In Alberta, part of the informative process involved an analysis to examine links between continuity with primary care and utilization of acute care services. The findings provide information regarding expectations for outcomes and potentially useful (and not so useful) measures for monitoring progress and performance.

MeSH terms

Alberta
Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration*
Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data
Primary Health Care / organization & administration*