The East Kootenay Division hosted small group events in local communities throughout the region to encourage their members to complete the patient medical home (PMH) Assessment. Since the PMH model may look different depending on where physicians are located geographically, the division customized the experience for each community. Hosting small group sessions in local communities ensures the division provided physicians an opportunity to share ideas and learn from colleagues who practice in a similar context. In partnership with the Practice Support Program (PSP) and the GPSC Evaluation Team, the division hosted seven events in eight communities and 69 physicians and allied health care professionals have completed online PMH Assessment surveys. Hosting these events provided the division with valuable opportunities to engage with physicians and gather data to inform and track PMH success. It also enabled members to share ideas for improving health care in their specific communities.
Each event followed the same structure and lasted about two hours. The events began with a shared meal and an opportunity for participants to socialize before they complete the survey online. After the survey, the event host helped participants understand their results and facilitates a group discussion based on questions from participants. Physician participants reported that discussion were “relevant to [their] practice,” “open and engaging,” and “a great opportunity to hear the views of others and provide feedback.” They also appreciated that the event “included people [they] work with,” which sparked “relevant discussion.”
The division recognizes that most rural physicians, by nature of their environments, already work in integrated team-based clinics. So, it was important for the division to acknowledge this as well as the existence of networks, at the onset of each event. “It’s important to clarify that the assessment is not a judgement on the service provided by the physician,” says division staff member Jacqui van Zyl. “It’s a snapshot of where they are currently on the PMH continuum.”
The division is using the results from the assessment events to inform future projects and PMH success. It has compiled a list of potential PMH projects, along with a list of interested and engaged physicians. The ideas generated from these sessions will be reviewed by the division’s Board, and the survey results will be used as a benchmark to track the progress of physicians along the PMH continuum.
“The assessment brought about an awareness and appreciation for services that are currently available in the community, and that it inspired physicians to find solutions to gaps in service.” –Jacqui Van Zyl
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Tips from event organizers
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