Primary Care Effective primary care is essential to a high performing health system. 1

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An effective PC system can: Improve population health, reduce neonatal and all-cause mortality, and improve preventive care Reduces overall health care utilization and takes pressure off emergency departments Primary care is critical to the health care system 3

An effective PC system can: Result in cost savings, reduced wait times, and better physician supply and distribution. Better care at lower cost. Create new knowledge: The CIHR has also recognized the key importance of investment in primary care research 4

Is getting involved in a PC Network worth my time and effort ? Playing a role in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care system by Strengthening the PC system Integrating PC practices Giving PC a voice 5

Current State of Primary Care Integration LHIN Primary Care Hospitals Community Health Centres Community Support Services Home Care Long Term Care Homes Mental Health & Addictions FFS FPs/FHGs FHTs FHNs/FHOs NP Clinics Patient Population

Bringing Primary Care into the broader Health System PC Group Leads CD LeadsResearchersCCACHospital PC Public Health OMA Regional Manager CHCLHIN Community Health Centres Primary Care Hospitals Community Support Services Home Care Addictions & Mental Health Services Long Term Care Homes

Primary Care Specialists Community Services Allied Health Professionals CCAC Hospitals Long-term Care Health Link PC Networks in each HLA What is the fit with Health Links?

Readiness Assessment Template 7) Primary care is organized in such a way that would facilitate ease of integration with other providers in region. 8) The provider grouping includes a minimum of 65% of the primary care providers (organized and unorganized) in the area. M 9

What’s in it for me? Better care for my patients. Health Links will be making clinical decisions that will directly affect the care to your patients. Health links will have funding. Have your say on where to invest! Have the satisfaction making your expertise available to the system

Bottom Line: As Primary Care Providers get more organized in a way that gives us a collective voice, the quality of care in Ontario will improve and costs will go down It is hard to argue that we do not share in this responsibility with the other Health sectors 11

References: Showstack, J., et al., Primary care: the next renaissance. Ann Intern Med, (3): p Bindman, A.B. and A. Majeed, Primary care in the United States: organisation of primary care in the United States. Bmj, (7390): p

References: Shi, L., et al., The relationship between primary care, income inequality, and mortality in US States, J Am Board Fam Pract, (5): p Campbell, S., et al., Is the quality of care in general medical practice improving? Results of a longitudinal observational study. Br J Gen Pract, (489): p

References: Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, Roy J. Romanow, Commissioner. Building on values: The future of health care in Canada: Final report Health Council of Canada, Fixing the Foundation: An Update on Primary Health Care and Home Care Renewal in Canada 2008, Health Council of Canada: Toronto, ON. 14

References: McDonald, J., APHCRI Stream 7: Travelling Research Report, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute. Scott, A. and B. Coote, The Value of the Divisions Network: An Evaluation of the Effect of Divisions of General Practice on Primary Care Performance. 2007, University of Melbourne 15

References: The World Health Report 2008: Primary Health Care - Now More Than Ever identifies that a well functioning primary care system is crucial for a high quality health system that is cost effective and equitable. 16

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