Grant: SPOR PIHCI Network: Management & Operations Grant

The primary care system in Newfoundland & Labrador today looks much the same as it did 20 years ago, but the need for more comprehensive care among the residents of NL has been steadily increasing. The province is facing high rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, and a large proportion of the population is approaching retirement age. To give patients across the province full access to the best possible primary care, we must change our current system into one where teams of healthcare professionals work with each other and with their patients to achieve better health. The Primary Healthcare Research and Integration to Improve Health System Efficiency (PRIIME) Network brings researchers, clinicians and policymakers in the province together with patients and their families to find ways to improve the way primary healthcare is delivered in our communities. PRIIME has significant expertise in health systems research, experience in using technology to improve care, an appreciation for the unique challenges faced by our rural and remote communities, and a dedication to pursue research outcomes that matter to patients. With the commitment of key decision-makers across NL, PRIIME has an opportunity to support major changes to the primary care system that will provide better care for patients from birth to death, particularly complex patients whose needs haven't always been met. The Network's leadership is dedicated to finding new ways to care for patients in community-based primary care while making efficient use of limited resources. PRIIME will look at changes to primary care that have worked in other parts of Canada, such as care teams that include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other allied health practitioners working together to support their complex patients. The goal is to build a sustainable system of community-based primary health care in a way that will meet the needs and improve the health of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.