Pathways from Emergency to Primary 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
To improve same-day and next-day access to primary care and reduce emergency department visits, Nova Scotia Health introduced a Registered Nurse (RN) prescriber to the primary care team in Neil’s Harbour. Since implementation, 23% of patients with less urgent needs have been redirected from the emergency department to primary care, with additional same-day appointments preventing unnecessary ER visits.
Program: Strengthening Access to Primary Care in Northern, Rural and Remote Communities
Location: Neil’s Harbour, Nova Scotia