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Expand Primary Health Care Delivery

On-going

Way Forward Commitment:

As we deliver health care services more efficiently through innovative and technology-based approaches, it is essential that the quality and availability of health care services not deteriorate. Having a service delivery model that ensures maximum impact per dollar spent is critical. With this in mind, in 2018-19 our government will expand its efforts to improve population health through a primary health care-based approach that:

  • Increases collaboration among health care providers;
  • Enables better access to community-based services;
  • Results in fewer costly hospitalizations, surgeries and emergency department visits; and
  • Leads to better service delivery and access for under-served individuals or those living with complex needs, which is critical given the prevalence of chronic illnesses in our population and the growing demand for mental health and addictions services. Our approach to primary health care will also include the establishment of programs for community paramedicine and family practice nursing.

A key component of the increased focus of primary health care services is expanding the number of inter-disciplinary primary health care teams throughout the province. In 2018, our government will expand this work to nine sites: Corner Brook, Stephenville, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Connaigre Peninsula, Burin Peninsula, Bell Island, Northeast Avalon, and the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area (including North West River and Sheshatshiu). By early 2019, our government will identify five additional sites.

What We’ve Accomplished:

  • Active Community Advisory Committees (CACs) are in place in Botwood, Connaigre, Burin, Bonavista, Grand Bank, Corner Brook, Deer Lake/White Bay, Stephenville and Clarenville. CACs are in progress in the Northwest Avalon and Bell Island. CACs engage residents to identify the needs of the community and involve them in the re-design of services.
  • Primary health care teams have been formed and began service-delivery re-design and implementation in Bonavista, Burin Peninsula, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Botwood, Connaigre Peninsula, Happy Valley-Goose Bay/Northwest River, Corner Brook, Sheshatshiu and Downtown St. John’s. We have identified, and are working to establish teams in, Stephenville, Bell Island, Northeast Avalon, Deer Lake/White Bay, and St. Anthony.
  • An after-hours urgent primary care clinic has been set up at Major’s Path for patients of participating family physicians who need immediate care for non-emergency illnesses and injuries. This clinic will help avoid unnecessary trips to emergency departments and provide an alternate option to those requiring timely care.
  • Since primary health care transformation work has begun, the Department of Health and Community Services has seen shift in patterns of access and utilization.  In Bonavista, the primary health care re-design has resulted in fewer costly emergency department visits for less-urgent and non-urgent care. On the Burin Penninsula and in Labrador, the establishment of walk-in and on-demand services for primary health care and, specifically, mental health and addictions has fully eliminated waitlists.
  • A community paramedicine project for palliative care is initiated in Eastern Health. HCS is working with community operators to explore opportunities to expand an initial pilot project in Western Health.
  • The Family Practice Renewal Program is working on the development of a Family Practice Nursing Program to support the integration of more Registered Nurses into Family Practice.