Re: Building the business case for allied health care pros

As the professional organization that represents more than half of all physicians in BC, the British Columbia College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) is pleased to support the article authored by Dr Cathy Clelland published in the January/February issue of the journal [Building the business case for allied health care professionals in family physician practices in British Columbia] (BCMJ 2015;57:15-17).

The article highlights the importance of the patient’s medical home—a model of family practice promoted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. The system, encompassed by 10 pillars (guiding principles), focuses on the needs of the patient and delivery of comprehensive care in an interprofessional collaborative setting. There is a significant body of research backing the efficacy of the patient’s medical home, with benefits including improved patient and provider satisfaction, superior health outcomes, and reduced system costs through decreased reliance on emergency departments.

The BCCFP strongly advocates for interprofessional collaboration where providers work within their scope of expertise. Through the use of effective communication practices and electronic medical records, the information exchange between health professionals can be quick and efficient, resulting in seamless experiences for the patient. As the article points out, when compared to Canadian averages, BC family physicians are more likely to be paid primarily through fee-for-service methods. Innovative payment arrangements, often blended with the traditional fee-for-service model, have been shown to incentivize continuity of care for patients with chronic diseases and multiple comorbidities—emerging priorities for any primary care system.

The BCCFP encourages additional study of the impact of alternative methods of remuneration as well as interprofessional collaboration in the provision of primary care in the context of BC. Experiences in other provinces using care models that align with the patient’s medical home have been positive—investigating and implementing innovative solutions in BC should be a priority in our health care system. The A GP for Me initiative is but one innovative approach to advance collaborative practice and access to family physicians for all—similar efforts in backing other patient’s medical home practice models will yield the best results for the health of all British Columbians.

The BCCFP will be hosting a symposium on the patient’s medical home on 29 April 2015 with an aim to open up discussion about potential opportunities for collaboration and to identify directions and actions to further its implementation in the province.
—Denise McLeod, MD 
—Louise Nasmith, MD
—Christie Newton, MD
—Amy Weber, MD
—Toby Kirshin
BCCFP Patient’s Medical Home Committee Members