A "Shock Test" to Primary Care Integration: COVID-19 Lessons from Alberta.
Healthc Policy
; 17(2): 38-53, 2021 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1572942
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed primary care (PC), and policies aimed at integrating it into provincial health systems, to a "shock test." This paper draws on documentary analysis and qualitative interviews with PC and health system stakeholders to examine shifts in Alberta's pre-pandemic PC integration model during the first nine months of the pandemic. We begin with an account of three elements of the province's pre-pandemic model finance, health authority activity and community activity. We describe these elements as they shifted, focusing on two indicators of change novel virtual care billing codes and personal protective equipment (PPE) distribution channels. We draw out policy planning lessons for improving PC integration under normal and future pandemic conditions, namely, by facilitating rapid updates of virtual care billing codes, analyses of the impact of care delivery and backstopping of PPE markets and supply chains for PC.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Healthc Policy
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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