Abstract
BackgroundThe Advanced Access (AA) Model has shown considerable success in improving timely access for patients in primary care settings. As a result, a majority of family physicians have implemented AA in their organizations over the last decade. However, despite its widespread use, few professionals other than physicians and nurse practitioners have implemented the model. Among those who have integrated it to their practice, a wide variation in the level of implementation is observed, suggesting a need to support primary care teams in continuous improvement with AA implementation. This quality improvement research project aims to document and measure the processes and effects of practice facilitation, to implement and improve AA within interprofessional teams.MethodsFive primary care teams at various levels of organizational AA implementation will take part in a quality improvement process. These teams will be followed independently over PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles for 18 months. Each team is responsible for setting their own objectives for improvement with respect to AA.The evaluation process consists of a mixed-methods plan, including semi-structured interviews with key members of the clinical and management teams, patient experience survey and AA-related metrics monitored from Electronic Medical Records over time.DiscussionMost theories on organizational change indicate that practice facilitation should enable involvement of stakeholders in the process of change and enable improved interprofessional collaboration through a team-based approach. Improving access to primary care services is one of the top priorities of the Quebec’s ministry of health and social services. This study will identify key barriers to quality improvement initiatives within primary care and help to develop successful strategies to help teams improve and broaden implementation of AA to other primary care professionals.
Highlights
The Advanced Access (AA) Model has shown considerable success in improving timely access for patients in primary care settings
Advanced Access Model Various organisational innovations have been developed in primary care to improve access, such as the Advanced access (AA) model [1]
Examples of its adoption by other professionals working in primary care settings, such as pharmacists, psychologists or social workers, are not documented in the literature; previous research experiences among our team have shown that many primary healthcare practitioners could benefit from this approach, suggesting a need to explore the possibilities and adaptations needed to transpose the principles of AA to a wider range of professionals
Summary
The Advanced Access (AA) Model has shown considerable success in improving timely access for patients in primary care settings. Despite its widespread use, few professionals other than physicians and nurse practitioners have implemented the model Among those who have integrated it to their practice, a wide variation in the level of implementation is observed, suggesting a need to support primary care teams in continuous improvement with AA implementation. This quality improvement research project aims to document and measure the processes and effects of practice facilitation, to implement and improve AA within interprofessional teams. Examples of its adoption by other professionals working in primary care settings, such as pharmacists, psychologists or social workers, are not documented in the literature; previous research experiences among our team have shown that many primary healthcare practitioners could benefit from this approach, suggesting a need to explore the possibilities and adaptations needed to transpose the principles of AA to a wider range of professionals
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