Measuring the performance of interprofessional primary health care teams: understanding the teams perspective

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to describe practices that support collaboration in interprofessional primary health care teams, and identify performance indicators perceived to measure the impact of this collaboration from the perspective of interprofessional health providers. Background: Despite the surge of interprofessional primary health care models implemented across Canada, there is little evidence as to whether or not the intended outcomes of primary health care teams have been achieved. Part of the challenge is determining the most appropriate measures that can demonstrate the value of collaborative care. To date, little remains known about performance measurement from the providers contributing to the collaborative care process in interprofessional primary care teams. Having providers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds assist in the development of performance measures can help identify measures most relevant to demonstrate the value of collaborative care on the intended outcomes of interprofessional primary care models. Methods: A qualitative study; part of a larger mixed methods developmental evaluation to examine performance measurement in interprofessional primary health care teams. A stakeholder workshop was conducted at an annual association meeting of interprofessional primary health care teams in the province of Ontario, Canada. Six questions guided the workshop groups and participant responses were documented on worksheets and flip charts. All responses were collected and entered verbatim into a word document. Qualitative analytic strategies were applied to each question. Findings: A total of 283 primary health care providers from 14 health professions working in interprofessional primary health care teams participated. Top three elements of interprofessional collaboration (total n = 628) were communication (n = 146), co-treatment (n = 112) and patient-based conferences (n = 81). Top three performance indicators currently used to demonstrate the value of interprofessional collaboration (total n = 241) were patient experience (n = 71), patient health status (n = 35) and within team referrals (n = 30).

National Health Policy Reform for Primary Care in Chile: A Qualitative Analysis of the Health Program Documents

“…101 Yet, organizations continue to promote patient-centered care highlighting the patient satisfaction while not addressing the other aspects to achieving holistic/comprehensive care. 30,102,103 Patient-centered care is linked to 3 concepts: (1) expanded view of illness, (2) patient participation in care, and (3) provider-patient relationship. 102 International evidence indicates the focus on the last 2 concepts, 30,101,104 while largely ignoring the expanded view of health, not only within the context of illness, which is important for Chile due to the national health policy.…”

“…The power structure influence can be minimized by applying process indicators that focus on measuring work characteristics specific to teams. 103 For example, the number of team meetings is relatively simple to measure; however, there should be a group of indicators specific to the care model. This is important as researchers have noted that only implementing team meetings may not achieve the full extent of the expected professional interactions.…”

Selecting home care quality indicators based on the Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care (RAI-HC) for Switzerland: A public health and healthcare providers' perspective

“…Further research into home care specific guidelines to support best practices and the development of process QIs is recommended. Such a development should also consider QIs that measure coordination processes in home care and the impact of inter- and intra-professional collaborations on home care clients outcomes [ 7 , 53 ].…”

“…nurses, GPs and other health care providers (e.g. pharmacists, physiotherapist) work together to provide a wide range of services to clients [ 6 , 7 ]. However, despite the increasing importance of home care, quality assurance in this health care sector is hardly established in Switzerland, in contrast to other sectors such as hospitals [ 8 ].…”

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“…nurses, GPs and other health care providers (e.g. pharmacists, physiotherapist) work together to provide a wide range of services to clients [6,7]. However, despite the increasing importance of home care, quality assurance in this health care sector is hardly established in Switzerland, in contrast to other sectors such as hospitals [8].…”