Continuous Quality Improvement Cohorts on Advanced Access

SIGNIFICANCE AND PURPOSE: Timely access to primary healthcare is one cornerstone of strong primary healthcare. Across Canada, timely access remains a significant challenge. One of the most highly recommended models around the world to improve timely access is advanced access (AA). Over the last two decades, AA has become increasingly popular in Canada. AA model has been widely promoted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and several other provincial organizations and professional associations. Some tools to support the implementation of AA to PHC providers and practices have been developed such as workbook by Health Quality Ontario and Doctor of BC. However, those tools are important assets to initiate a reflection to improve, they are often not sufficient. Eight PHC teams interested in improving and expanding the implementation of AA have been coached through several PDSA cycles. However, the personalized support model used is very demanding in terms of capacity and resources. These findings guided the research team in developing and evaluating a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Cohort program on advanced access to support Primary healthcare (PHC) teams.This study aims to develop knowledge on an externally facilitated CQI pan-Canadian cohort program that could potentially be transferred to provincial organizations or professional associations wishing to support clinics in quality improvement projects.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the effectiveness of CQI cohorts on AA outcomes.

QI INTERVENTION PROGRAM: PHC teams will participate in an externally facilitated CQI program focusing on AA. The proposed program consists of cycle of three key activities; 1) Interprofessional reflective sessions and need prioritization, 2) Group mentoring and PDSA Cycles and 3) Cohort cross-learning exchange opportunities.

METHODS: This study will be based on the cluster-controlled trial of a CQI program of PHC teams on AA. 48 PHC teams from Quebec will participate to the externally facilitated CQI cohort intervention. Volunteer clinics from the intervention regions will receive the CQI intervention for 18 months. Intervention clinics will be matched to PHC clinics located in other regions to compose the control group. The match will be based on the clinic level (1 to 10, based on the number of patients registered and services offered. Clinics in the control group will receive an audit on a selection of AA indicators and will be offered the intervention 12 to 18 months following their recruitment. Data collection and analysis will include quantitative data based on a comprehensive assessment of both AA processes and outcomes. These will be measured through a self-reflective survey for PHC team members, EMR data and patients related outcomes questionnaire on access. Qualitative data based on semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, observations of the CQI activities and analysis of plans of action of documents plan of action will take place.