Public health nurses' experience of collaboration with primary care providers in northern British Columbia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Pyke
BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e045997
Author(s):  
Abhijit Pakhare ◽  
Ankur Joshi ◽  
Rasha Anwar ◽  
Khushbu Dubey ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
...  

ObjectivesHypertension and diabetes mellitus are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Once identified with these conditions, individuals need to be linked to primary healthcare system for initiation of lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy and maintenance of therapies to achieve optimal blood pressure and glycaemic control. In the current study, we evaluated predictors and barriers for non-linkage to primary-care public health facilities for CVD risk reduction.MethodsWe conducted a community-based longitudinal study in 16 urban slum clusters in central India. Community health workers (CHWs) in each urban slum cluster screened all adults, aged 30 years or more for hypertension and diabetes, and those positively screened were sought to be linked to urban primary health centres (UPHCs). We performed univariate and multivariate analysis to identify independent predictors for non-linkage to primary-care providers. We conducted in-depth assessment in 10% of all positively screened, to identify key barriers that potentially prevented linkages to primary-care facilities.ResultsOf 6174 individuals screened, 1451 (23.5%; 95% CI 22.5 to 24.6) were identified as high risk and required linkage to primary-care facilities. Out of these, 544 (37.5%) were linked to public primary-care facilities and 259 (17.8%) to private providers. Of the remaining, 506 (34.9%) did not get linked to any provider and 142 (9.8%) defaulted after initial linkages (treatment interrupters). On multivariate analysis, as compared with those linked to public primary-care facilities, those who were not linked had age less than 45 years (OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.5)), were in lowest wealth quintile (OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.9), resided beyond a kilometre from UPHC (OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.4) and were engaged late by CHWs (OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.8 to 3.7)). Despite having comparable knowledge level, denial about their risk status and lack of family support were key barriers in this group.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates feasibility of CHW-based strategy in promoting linkages to primary-care facilities.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (S3) ◽  
pp. S342-S352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle G. Dresser ◽  
Leslie Short ◽  
Laura Wedemeyer ◽  
Victoria Lowerson Bredow ◽  
Rachel Sacks ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhee Lee ◽  
Thomas F. Kresina ◽  
Melinda Campopiano ◽  
Robert Lubran ◽  
H. Westley Clark

Substance-related and addictive disorders are chronic relapsing conditions that substantially impact public health. Effective treatments for these disorders require addressing substance use/dependence comprehensively as well as other associated comorbidities. Comprehensive addressing of substance use in a medical setting involves screening for substance use, addressing substance use directly with the patient, and formulating an appropriate intervention. For alcohol dependence and opioid dependence, pharmacotherapies are available that are safe and effective when utilized in a comprehensive treatment paradigm, such as medication assisted treatment. In primary care, substance use disorders involving alcohol, illicit opioids, and prescription opioid abuse are common among patients who seek primary care services. Primary care providers report low levels of preparedness and confidence in identifying substance-related and addictive disorders and providing appropriate care and treatment. However, new models of service delivery in primary care for individuals with substance-related and addictive disorders are being developed to promote screening, care and treatment, and relapse prevention. The education and training of primary care providers utilizing approved medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorders and opioid dependence in a primary care setting would have important public health impact and reduce the burden of alcohol abuse and opioid dependence.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Q Andrade ◽  
Jean-Pierre Calabretto ◽  
Nicole L Pratt ◽  
Lisa M Kalisch-Ellett ◽  
Vanessa T LeBlanc ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Emergencies disproportionally affect vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic affected older patients with co-morbidities both directly due to more severe infection and indirectly by affecting care provision. To promote continuity of care, public health professionals require tools to quickly and precisely coordinate with primary care providers. This study evaluated whether digital interventions powered by current existing infrastructure are more effective than conventional interventions in promoting primary care appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We developed a digital intervention delivered by secure messaging and compared it to a post delivered intervention to promote continuity of care for vulnerable veterans during COVID-19 in a real world, non-randomised, interventional study. The study was implemented as part of the Veterans’ MATES program, an Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs program to promote improvements in health care for veterans. The intervention provided patient specific information to general practitioners (GPs) to support continuity of care, alongside mailed education to veterans. The intervention key messages were to maintain regular contact with care providers and to continue to adhere to health plans. The intervention took place in April 2020, during the first weeks of COVID-19 social distancing rules in Australia. The main outcome was time to first appointment with the primary general practitioner (GP) measured using a Cox proportional hazards model.Results: GPs received digital messaging for 51,052 veterans and post messaging for 26,859 veterans. The proportion of patients seeing their primary GP during the three months following intervention was higher in the digital group (77.8%) than the post group (61.5%) (p<0.01). Being in the digital group was associated with earlier appointments. Conclusion: Current infrastructure coupled with innovative solutions is effective in promoting care coordination at scale during national emergencies, opening up new perspectives for precision public health initiatives.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kendell ◽  
K.M. Decker ◽  
P.A. Groome ◽  
M.L. McBride ◽  
L. Jiang ◽  
...  

Introduction Oncologists have traditionally been responsible for providing routine follow-up care for cancer survivors; in recent years, however, primary care providers (pcps) are taking a greater role in care during the follow-up period. In the present study, we used a longitudinal multi-province retrospective cohort study to examine how primary care and specialist care intersect in the delivery of breast cancer follow-up care.Methods Various databases (registry, clinical, and administrative) were linked in each of four provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Population-based cohorts of breast cancer survivors were identified in each province. Physician visits were identified using billings or claims data and were classified as visits to primary care (total, breast cancer–specific, and other), oncology (medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgery), and other specialties. The mean numbers of visits by physician type and specialty, or by combinations thereof, were examined. The mean numbers of visits for each follow-up year were also examined by physician type.Results The results showed that many women (>64%) in each province received care from both primary care and oncology providers during the follow-up period. The mean number of breast cancer–specific visits to primary care and visits to oncology declined with each follow-up year. Interprovincial variations were observed, with greater surgeon follow-up in Nova Scotia and greater primary care follow-up in British Columbia. Provincial differences could reflect variations in policies and recommendations, relevant initiatives, and resources or infrastructure to support pcp-led follow-up care.Conclusions Optimizing the role of pcps in breast cancer follow-up care might require strategies to change attitudes about pcp-led follow-up and to better support pcps in providing survivorship care.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Ansari ◽  
MJ Ackland ◽  
NJ Carson ◽  
BCK Choi

The objective of this paper is to present small area analyses of diabetes complications in Victoria, Australia, and to illustrate their importance for targeting public health and health services interventions. Local government areas in Victoria were aggregated into 32 Primary Care Partnerships (PCP), which are voluntary alliances of primary care providers. The 32 PCP areas were used as the basic geographic units for small area analyses. Admission rates for diabetes complications were age and sex standardised using the direct method and the 1996 Victorian population as the reference. Admission rate ratios were calculated using the Victorian admission rates as the reference. The 95 per cent confidence intervals for the standardised admission rate ratios were based on the Poisson distribution. There was a wide variation (almost fivefold) in admission rates for diabetes complications across the PCP catchments, with the lowest standardised rate ratio of 0.37 and the highest of 1.75. There were 11 PCPs (seven metropolitan, four rural) with admission rate ratios significantly higher than the Victorian average. The seven metropolitan PCPs contributed more than 43% of all admissions and bed days for diabetes complications in Victoria. Small area analyses of diabetes complications are an exciting new development aimed at stimulating an evidence-based dialogue between local area health service providers, planners and policy-makers. The purpose is to provide opportunities to target public health and health services interventions at the local level to improve the management of diabetes complications in the community.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document