Publications

Enhancing interprofessional collaboration for unattached patients in primary care 

This study shows a significant increase in the delivery of comprehensive care for patients without a regular family doctor, from 13% to 43%, thanks to interprofessional collaboration. Nevertheless, it highlights the need for structural improvements and training to maximize the effectiveness of this collaboration.

In 2024, the article Enhancing interprofessional collaboration for unattached patients in primary care was publish. The scientific co-director of the SSA-RUISSS Université de Sherbrooke team of the Unité de soutien SSA Québec, Isabelle Gaboury, is co-author of this text.

The article explores an interprofessional collaborative initiative at Clinique Indigo, of which study coauthor Élise Boulanger is co-founder, to improve care for patients without a family doctor in Quebec. The project improved comprehensive care from 13% to 43% for these individuals by integrating a variety of healthcare professionals. Challenges included staff turnover and gaps in primary care training. The project supports the expansion of interprofessional approaches to bridging disparities in universal primary healthcare.

  • Dr. Élise Boulanger, Clinique Indigo
  • Dr. Maxine Dumas-Pilon, Clinique Indigo
  • Victoria Wicks, MSc
  • Dr. Isabelle Gaboury, Université de Sherbrooke
  • Dr. Mylaine Breton, Université de Sherbrooke
  • Mélanie-Ann Smithman, Université de Toronto

Context

The study takes place in the context of primary care in Quebec, where around a third of patients do not have a regular family doctor. To improve access and quality of care for these patients, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux has introduced the guichet d’accès en première ligne (GAP) and group affiliation models.

Methods

The study used an interventional approach over 11 months, from May 2023 to March 2024, implementing an expanded interprofessional team within Clinique Indigo. This included partnerships with external providers, workshops to establish a shared vision of care, and training sessions to improve collaboration between doctors, nurses, social workers and other professionals at the clinic. Impact was assessed through analyses of medical records and the research team’s logbooks; all in collaboration with local health authorities.

Results

The study demonstrated a significant increase in the provision of complete care for patients without a regular family physician, from 13% to 43%, thanks to interprofessional collaboration. However, significant challenges were identified, including high staff turnover, gaps in primary care training, and under-utilization of professional capacity. These findings underline the potential of the interprofessional approach to improving access to care, but also highlight the need for structural and training improvements to maximize its effectiveness.

Conclusions

This study shows that integrating interprofessional collaborations into primary care is a promising approach to improving access and quality of care for patients without a regular family doctor. However, it stresses that structural changes and increased support are needed to overcome the challenges of team organization and stability. The study calls for reforms in primary care policy to maximize the impact of interprofessional initiatives in Quebec’s universal healthcare system.

Citation

Boulanger É, Dumas-Pilon M, Wicks V, Gaboury I, Breton M, Smithman M-A. Enhancing interprofessional collaboration for unattached patients in primary care. Healthcare Management Forum. 2024;37(1_suppl):28S-32S. doi:10.1177/08404704241264021

  • Implementation and change management
  • Patient-Public-Organizational Partnership