Promoting cross-jurisdictional primary health care research: developing a set of common indicators across 12 community-based primary health care teams in Canada.

Sabrina T Wong,Clare Liddy,Alan Katz,Claire Kendall,Walter P Wodchis,Marshall Godwin,Jenny Ploeg,Jeannie L Haggerty,Michael Green,Martin Fortin,Kasra Hassani,Julia M Langton,Eva Grunfeld

doi:10.1017/s1463423618000518

Abstract

AimTo describe the process by which the 12 community-based primary health care (CBPHC) research teams worked together and fostered cross-jurisdictional collaboration, including collection of common indicators with the goal of using the same measures and data sources. BACKGROUND: A pan-Canadian mechanism for common measurement of the impact of primary care innovations across Canada is lacking. The Canadian Institutes for Health Research and its partners funded 12 teams to conduct research and collaborate on development of a set of commonly collected indicators. METHODS: A working group representing the 12 teams was established. They undertook an iterative process to consider existing primary care indicators identified from the literature and by stakeholders. Indicators were agreed upon with the intention of addressing three objectives across the 12 teams: (1) describing the impact of improving access to CBPHC; (2) examining the impact of alternative models of chronic disease prevention and management in CBPHC; and (3) describing the structures and context that influence the implementation, delivery, cost, and potential for scale-up of CBPHC innovations.FindingsNineteen common indicators within the core dimensions of primary care were identified: access, comprehensiveness, coordination, effectiveness, and equity. We also agreed to collect data on health care costs and utilization within each team. Data sources include surveys, health administrative data, interviews, focus groups, and case studies. Collaboration across these teams sets the foundation for a unique opportunity for new knowledge generation, over and above any knowledge developed by any one team. Keys to success are each team's willingness to engage and commitment to working across teams, funding to support this collaboration, and distributed leadership across the working group. Reaching consensus on collection of common indicators is challenging but achievable.

Highlights

Strong primary care systems are associated with better patient outcomes, for those with chronic conditions (Hansen et al, 2015)
We report here on the process by which the 12 teams worked together and fostered cross-jurisdictional collaboration, including collection of common indicators with the goal of using the same measures and data sources
Progress is shared with the larger group and other. This unprecedented process of collaboration across interdisciplinary community-based primary health care (CBPHC) research teams operating across Canada in jurisdictions is a unique opportunity for new knowledge generation that exceeds beyond the knowledge outputs of any one team

Summary

Introduction

Strong primary care systems are associated with better patient outcomes, for those with chronic conditions (Hansen et al, 2015). Primary care clinicians report challenges in coordinating care and delivering care to the most complex and vulnerable patients (Osborn et al, 2015). This points to the need for targeted efforts to innovate in the delivery of primary health care with a particular focus on strategies to effectively reach the most vulnerable patients. The diversity of primary care activity within and across jurisdictions

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