Quality Improvement in Primary Care

Advancing the development of a high-performing primary care system with equitable access and sustainable, high-quality community-based care is desired by all Ontarians.  We lead and initiate building the capacity to improve clinical, functional and population health outcomes while improving patient and provider experience and optimizing utilization of health resources through the adoption of quality improvement methodologies. 

New Initiative!

Advanced Access and Efficiency in Primary Care - Wave 4

The Advanced Access and Efficiency for Primary Care initiative is a learning opportunity for primary care providers and their teams. Designed to assist them in understanding and implementing best practices, change concepts and approaches to improvement, the initiative will enable providers to “do today’s work today.” The core principle of Advanced Access is that patients calling to schedule a visit are offered an appointment with their primary care provider on the same day or a day of the patient’s choosing.  For more information or to join visit the Learning Community Gateway or click the icon below:

Many Primary Healthcare teams have successfully implemented Advanced Access and Efficiency principles in their practices.  Please read this letter of endorsement from Dr. Vineet Nair of the London Health FHO.

The Hamilton FHT is another example of a team who has effectively applied Advanced Access and Efficiency principlies in their practice.  Read their story here.

Quality Improvement and the Patient Journey:
Improving Health Outcomes, Enhancing the Patient Experience
and Reducing Health Care Costs

This report exams the patient journey in Ontario and the ways in which quality improvement initiatives in primary care can enhance the patient experience, improve the health of the population and reduce per capita health care costs.

  Tillie Goes to the Clinic

 Please enjoy this animated short dramatizing the benefits of Advanced Access & Efficiency principles in Primary Care.

Quality Improvement in Primary Care Podcast Series

The Improvement in Primary Care Podcast Series capture the experiences of Collaborative 1-3 Primary Care teams in Ontario. Click on the podcasts below, and experience the quality improvement journey for yourself.

Office Practice Redesign (Access and Efficiency)

"With advanced access, the whole flow is better, the patients are happier, from the front desk all the way to myself. It's been wonderful."

Click here for more quality improvement podcasts.

 Learning Collaborative Reports

Over 100 primary care teams from across Ontario participated in Quality Improvement Learning Collaboratives since 2008. While keeping patient outcomes and experiences at the forefront, teams were able to demonstrate significant breakthroughs in the domains of chronic disease management, preventative care and office practice redesign. This is the story of their quality improvement journey.