Effective primary care is essential to a high performing health system. An effective primary care (PC) system can improve population health, reduce mortality, improve preventive care, reduce health care utilization, and result in cost savings. PC is critical to the health care system. Getting involved in a PC Network is worth the time and effort as it allows primary care providers to play a role in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care system by strengthening PC and integrating PC practices.

1. Primary Care
Effective primary
care is essential
to a high
performing health
system.
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2. 2

3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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?

7. 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
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8. 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

9. 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
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10. References:
• Showstack, J., et al., Primary care: the
next renaissance. Ann Intern Med, 2003.
138(3): p. 268-72.
• Bindman, A.B. and A. Majeed, Primary
care in the United States: organisation of
primary care in the United States. Bmj,
2003. 326(7390): p. 631-4.
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11. References:
• Shi, L., et al., The relationship between
primary care, income inequality, and
mortality in US States, 1980-1995. J Am
Board Fam Pract, 2003. 16(5): p. 412-22.
• Campbell, S., et al., Is the quality of care in
general medical practice improving?
Results of a longitudinal observational
study. Br J Gen Pract, 2003. 53(489): p.
298-304.
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12. 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. 2002.
• 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. 12

13. 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
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14. 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.
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15. QUESTIONS?
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