Leveraging partnerships to improve primary care delivery to better meet the healthcare needs of people

Background: The Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN) aims to facilitate spread and scale of pan-Canadian primary care innovations within 4 pillars of research: access to care, integration of care, Indigenous health and ongoing development of a primary care information system. Approach. The CPCRN, funded by the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research, has invested in research projects and development of a primary care information system (PCIS) through nurturing and empowering practice-based research and learning networks (PBRLNs). developed priority areas based on patient priority setting exercises. Projects were funded after a peer review committee, including patients, assessed typical scientific rigour, in addition to patient priorities and ability to scale and spread. The CPCRN, through its partners built a strong, engaged network of primary care PBRLNs across Canada (n=18+). Results. Direct outputs of the projects are that they have resulted in programs being spread across multiple provinces. Examples include: 1) Implementation of centralized waiting list programs with an emphasis on connecting to primary care; and 2) implementation of a case management approach for complex patients in primary care, including a whole First Nations community. Through patients, clinicians and the PBRLNs, the CPCRN has built different pieces of a PCIS, including patient reported experience and outcome measure and organizational characteristic surveys; a library of messages for use in primary care to better meet patient needs and screening for poverty and related social determinants of health. The information system has also resulted in ability of PBRLNs to participate more easily in clinical trials. In turn this has resulted in better care for patients. One example is the early identification of heart failure in primary care where patients were offered improved understanding, focused education and clinicians highlighting the importance of early detection in improving outcomes. Implications. CPCRN, it’s partnerships with patients and clinicians alongside researchers has resulted using this infrastructure so that the right patients are asked to participate in primary care clinical trials and ultimately patients receiving earlier and better care for patients. Patients, primary care practices, the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network, Primary Care Trials Network and the Practice Information Network alongside governments and professional organizations all important to integrated care in primary care.