Primary Care Access Improvement

An illustration of three individuals: a masked healthcare provider holding a tablet standing in a doorway facing two individuals, one of whom has their hand on the other's arm and the other individual has their hand on their own chest signifying gratitude.

Primary Care Access Improvement

Primary Care Access Improvement helps team-based primary care organizations create efficiencies and optimize team functioning so they can provide timely access to care for more people.

With the support of a coach, 25 team-based primary care organizations apply five pillars of a contemporary Advanced Access model. Each pillar identifies an area of work necessary for the successful implementation of Advanced Access in primary care practices. This approach helps healthcare teams balance appointment availability with patient demand so people can get care without long delays or relying on emergency departments.

As more people look for ways to expand access to primary care, Advanced Access offers a proven solution that can reduce wait times, improve patient experiences and lighten workloads for primary care teams while boosting job satisfaction.

An illustration of three individuals: one individual is holding a tablet towards an individual on a large screen and a third individual who has their hand on their chest signifying gratitude.

What is Advanced Access Quality Improvement?

Advanced Access is a widely endorsed quality improvement (QI) model that enables patients to access primary care services when they need it, considering urgency of care needs, while ensuring continuity of care. It achieves this by creating efficiencies and optimizing team functioning in primary care settings in urban, rural, northern and remote areas.

Improvement with impact

After just six months of implementing the Advanced Access QI model with support from Healthcare Excellence Canada, four clinics in Quebec reported the following results (PDF):

Improved access to team-based primary care, with appointment wait times reduced by an average of seven days.
More appointments available within 48 hours.
Better provider experience, with providers reporting reduced workloads, fewer administrative tasks and higher job satisfaction.

How we’re supporting teams

Teams include team-based primary care organizations who are experiencing challenges with access, supported by:

Seed funding up to $15,000.
Expert coaches to help you address challenges, sustain improvements and plan for long-term success.
Proven tools and evidence-informed resources for implementing and measuring what works.
Virtual and in-person* learning and networking to share knowledge, celebrate successes and drive collective progress.

Teams will be supported to implement contemporary Advanced Access while building essential skills in equity, cultural safety, patient engagement and safety. They’ll also explore key topics like quality improvement and working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Featured content

The Five Central Pillars of Advanced Access

Contemporary Advanced Access helps primary care teams improve access, reduce wait times, and deliver timely, patient-centred care using five pillars. Find out how it can help your team deliver the right care, at the right time.

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Expand your participation—and your impact

This offering is part of Care Forward, a larger initiative that provides funding and learning supports to drive impact on four key priorities: expanding access to care and easing pressure on emergency departments, helping more people age where they call home, advancing person-centred long-term care and supporting the health workforce. Register for Right Care Challenge and explore offerings that are already underway.

Illustration of a kneeling healthcare provider holding a tablet for an individual sitting in a chair. The tablet is for a virtual healthcare visit with another healthcare provider.

Enhancing Integrated Care

Organizations working to strengthen integrated team-based care, including virtual care.

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Right Care Challenge

Open to health and social care teams ensuring people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place —all while helping reduce avoidable emergency department visits.