Addressing Family Doctor Shortages with Virtual Care
The Strengthening Primary Care program brought together 20 teams of primary care providers, organizations and communities from northern, rural and remote communities across Canada to improve access to primary care.
- Topics
- Primary and community care
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis priorities
- Cultural Safety
- Audience
Healthcare leader
Community organization
Point of care provider
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With support from the program, the teams introduced promising practices — approaches that improved access to safe, including culturally safe, team-based primary care — by meeting the unique needs of communities, patients and providers while encouraging collaboration and shared learning across Canada. One of the 20 teams (Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services) advanced five unique promising practices to respond to the needs of people and providers throughout their province.
About this Promising Practice
The Integrated Virtual Care (IVC) program connects patients to their family doctor and primary care team in a region where 20% of residents lack access to primary care. The program has expanded to three primary care clinics, enrolled over 6,500 new patients, and reduced avoidable emergency department visits.
Program: Strengthening Access to Primary Care in Northern, Rural and Remote Communities
Location: Renfrew County, Ontario