Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Access to healthcare services is a vital determinant of a population health, extending to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of disease and ill-health. While the majority of research on healthcare access has focused on primary care, we know relatively less about access to specialist care (e.g., cardiologist, allergists, oncologists). More specifically, a major gap in knowledge exists related to the ways in which patients experience accessing specialty care in terms of barriers to access, and impacts of wait times. Recognizing that barriers may relate to patient, provider, and community level factors, this research will analyze data related to specialist access with this lens. This research will contribute by exploring inequities in access to specialist care that may arise because of individual and/or community-level factors. By identifying vulnerable groups, this research will be vital for informing policies aimed at improving healthcare delivery for all Canadians.