Grant: Operating Grant

We know that we need strong, effective primary health care services in order to improve the health of the population and create an effective health care system over the long term. We also know that partnerships and networks among communities, health services and health care providers are needed for widespread changes in primary health care to occur. Although we know what is needed, we do not yet have good evidence about how to make these changes over the long term across a health region. The purpose of this research is to understand how networks of partners can be engaged to transform primary health care at community and regional levels. Partners include doctors and other health care providers, community organizations, municipal leaders, the ministry of health, and the regional health authority. The Northern Health Authority in British Columbia is leading a process with its partners to improve primary health care services, beginning in six communities across northern BC. In this research, we will use the lens of social entrepreneurship to examine how primary health care system change actually takes place over a period of four years in these six communities and across the region. We will examine the process of change by interviewing individuals who are involved in the change, examining documents such as minutes of meetings and the results of evaluations, and considering statistics on the use and effectiveness of health services. The research team will describe how the relationships, partnerships and networks within and beyond the communities actually help or hinder changes in services. Through this research we will learn how partnerships and networking contribute to changes in health services and how health care systems can be aligned to better serve the needs of the population, especially in rural and northern Canada.