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Mathews M, Hedden L, Lukewich J, Marshall EG, Meredith L, Moritz L, Ryan D, Spencer S, Brown JB, Gill PS, Wong EKW. Adapting care provision in family practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study exploring the impact of primary care reforms in four Canadian regions. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2024; 25:109. [PMID: 38582824 PMCID: PMC10998349 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past two decades, Canadian provinces and territories have introduced a series of primary care reforms in an attempt to improve access to and quality of primary care services, resulting in diverse organizational structures and practice models. We examine the impact of these reforms on family physicians' (FPs) ability to adapt their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the provision of routine primary care. METHODS As part of a larger case study, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with FPs in four Canadian regions: British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. During the interviews, participants were asked about their personal and practice characteristics, the pandemic-related roles they performed over different stages of the pandemic, the facilitators and barriers they experienced in performing these roles, and potential roles FPs could have filled. Interviews were transcribed and a thematic analysis approach was applied to identify recurring themes in the data. RESULTS Sixty-eight FPs completed an interview across the four regions. Participants described five areas of primary care reform that impacted their ability to operate and provide care during the pandemic: funding models, electronic medical records (EMRs), integration with regional entities, interdisciplinary teams, and practice size. FPs in alternate funding models experienced fewer financial constraints than those in fee-for-service practices. EMR access enhanced FPs' ability to deliver virtual care, integration with regional entities improved access to personal protective equipment and technological support, and team-based models facilitated the implementation of infection prevention and control protocols. Lastly, larger group practices had capacity to ensure adequate staffing and cover additional costs, allowing FPs more time to devote to patient care. CONCLUSIONS Recent primary care system reforms implemented in Canada enhanced FPs' ability to adapt to the uncertain and evolving environment of providing primary care during the pandemic. Our study highlights the importance of ongoing primary care reforms to enhance pandemic preparedness and advocates for further expansion of these reforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mathews
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada.
| | - Lindsay Hedden
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Julia Lukewich
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Emily Gard Marshall
- Department of Family Medicine Primary Care Research Unit, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Suite 402, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Leslie Meredith
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Lauren Moritz
- Department of Family Medicine Primary Care Research Unit, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Suite 402, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Dana Ryan
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Sarah Spencer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Judith B Brown
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Paul S Gill
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Eric K W Wong
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
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Spencer S, Lukewich J, Marshall EG, Mathews M, Asghari S, Brown JB, Freeman TR, Gill P, Idrees S, McCracken RK, Ranade S, Slade S, Terry AL, Wickett J, Wong E, Buote R, Meredith L, Moritz L, Ryan D, Hedden L. "Family doctors are also people": a qualitative analysis of how family physicians managed competing personal and professional responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2024; 22:18. [PMID: 38439084 PMCID: PMC10913223 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-024-00901-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family physicians (FPs) fill an essential role in public health emergencies yet have frequently been neglected in pandemic response plans. This exclusion harms FPs in their clinical roles and has unintended consequences in the management of concurrent personal responsibilities, many of which were amplified by the pandemic. The objective of our study was to explore the experiences of FPs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand how they managed their competing professional and personal priorities. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with FPs from four Canadian regions between October 2020 and June 2021. Employing a maximum variation sampling approach, we recruited participants until we achieved saturation. Interviews explored FPs' personal and professional roles and responsibilities during the pandemic, the facilitators and barriers that they encountered, and any gender-related experiences. Transcribed interviews were thematically analysed. RESULTS We interviewed 68 FPs during the pandemic and identified four overarching themes in participants' discussion of their personal experiences: personal caregiving responsibilities, COVID-19 risk navigation to protect family members, personal health concerns, and available and desired personal supports for FPs to manage their competing responsibilities. While FPs expressed a variety of ways in which their personal experiences made their professional responsibilities more complicated, rarely did that affect the extent to which they participated in the pandemic response. CONCLUSIONS For FPs to contribute fully to a pandemic response, they must be factored into pandemic plans. Failure to appreciate their unique role and circumstances often leaves FPs feeling unsupported in both their professional and personal lives. Comprehensive planning in anticipation of future pandemics must consider FPs' varied responsibilities, health concerns, and necessary precautions. Having adequate personal and practice supports in place will facilitate the essential role of FPs in responding to a pandemic crisis while continuing to support their patients' primary care needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Spencer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Julia Lukewich
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Emily Gard Marshall
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Maria Mathews
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Shabnam Asghari
- Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Judith B Brown
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Thomas R Freeman
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Paul Gill
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Samina Idrees
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Rita K McCracken
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sudit Ranade
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Steve Slade
- The College of Family Physicians of Canada, 2630 Skymark Avenue, Mississauga, ON, L4W 5A4, Canada
| | - Amanda L Terry
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Jamie Wickett
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Eric Wong
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Richard Buote
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Leslie Meredith
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Lauren Moritz
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Dana Ryan
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Lindsay Hedden
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Hedden L, Spencer S, Mathews M, Gard Marshall E, Lukewich J, Asghari S, Gill P, McCracken RK, Vaughan C, Wong E, Buote R, Meredith L, Moritz L, Ryan D, Schacter G. "Technology has allowed us to do a lot more but it's not necessarily the panacea for everybody": Family physician perspectives on virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296768. [PMID: 38422067 PMCID: PMC10903916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian primary care practices rapidly adapted to provide care virtually. Most family physicians lacked prior training or expertise with virtual care. In the absence of formal guidance, they made individual decisions about in-person versus remote care based on clinical judgement, their longitudinal relationships with patients, and personal risk assessments. Our objective was to explore Canadian family physicians' perspectives on the strengths and limitations of virtual care implementation for their patient populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for the integration of virtual care into broader primary care practice. METHODS We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with family physicians working in four Canadian jurisdictions (Vancouver Coastal health region, British Columbia; Southwestern Ontario; the province of Nova Scotia; and Eastern Health region, Newfoundland and Labrador). We analyzed interview data using a structured applied thematic approach. RESULTS We interviewed 68 family physicians and identified four distinct themes during our analysis related to experiences with and perspectives on virtual care: (1) changes in access to primary care; (2) quality and efficacy of care provided virtually; (3) patient and provider comfort with virtual modalities; and (4) necessary supports for virtual care moving forward. CONCLUSIONS The move to virtual care enhanced access to care for select patients and was helpful for family physicians to better manage their panels. However, virtual care also created access challenges for some patients (e.g., people who are underhoused or living in areas without good phone or internet access) and for some types of care (e.g., care that required access to medical devices). Family physicians are optimistic about the ongoing integration of virtual care into broader primary care delivery, but guidance, regulations, and infrastructure investments are needed to ensure equitable access and to maximize quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Hedden
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Spencer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Mathews
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emily Gard Marshall
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Julia Lukewich
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Shabnam Asghari
- Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Paul Gill
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rita K. McCracken
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Crystal Vaughan
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Eric Wong
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Buote
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Leslie Meredith
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren Moritz
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Dana Ryan
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Gordon Schacter
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Bouabida K, Lebouché B, Pomey MP. The paradoxes of telehealth platforms: what did we learn from the use of telehealth platforms? Front Digit Health 2024; 6:1346039. [PMID: 38414713 PMCID: PMC10896980 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1346039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
This article is an overview and reflection of the findings of an evaluative study conducted on a program called "Techno-Covid Partnership" (TCP) implemented in April 2020 at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) in Montreal, Canada. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CHUM decided in April 2020 to implement telehealth, virtual care, and telemonitoring platforms and technologies to maintain access to care and reduce the risks of contamination and spread of COVID-19 as well as to protect users of health services and health professionals. Three technological platforms for telehealth and remote care and monitoring have been developed, implemented, and evaluated in real-time within the framework of the TCP program. A cross-sectional study was carried out in which a questionnaire was used and administered to users of telehealth platforms including patients and healthcare professionals. The methods and results of the study have been published previously published. In the completion of the two articles published in this context, in this paper, we briefly recall the context of the study and the method performed. The main focus of the paper is on presenting a critical overview and reflection on the major findings of our evaluation of the use of telehealth platforms from the point of view of patients and health professionals and discuss certain paradoxes i.e., the advantages, challenges, recommendations, and other perspectives that emerged in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khayreddine Bouabida
- Centre de Recherche, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- École de Santé Publique, Département de Gestion, D’évaluation et de Politique de Santé, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bertrand Lebouché
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Chronic Viral Illness Service, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Pascale Pomey
- Centre de Recherche, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- École de Santé Publique, Département de Gestion, D’évaluation et de Politique de Santé, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Hospital Center of the University of Montreal (CHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Centre of Excellence on Partnership with Patients and the Public, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Nwokeji I, Adeoye O, Madu C. RE: The effectiveness of telepsychiatry: thematic review. BJPsych Bull 2023; 47:361. [PMID: 38029785 PMCID: PMC10694682 DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2023.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Imani Nwokeji
- Medical Student, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Oluwafisayo Adeoye
- Medical Student, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Chisom Madu
- Medical Student, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Mathews M, Meredith L, Ryan D, Hedden L, Lukewich J, Marshall EG, Moritz L, Spencer S, Xiao J, Brown JB, McKay M, Wong E, Gill P. An analysis of policies supporting the roles of family physicians in four regions in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthc Manage Forum 2023; 36:333-339. [PMID: 37326140 PMCID: PMC10290925 DOI: 10.1177/08404704231183174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Policy supports are needed to ensure that Family Physicians (FPs) can carry out pandemic-related roles. We conducted a document analysis in four regions in Canada to identify regulation, expenditure, and public ownership policies during the COVID-19 pandemic to support FP pandemic roles. Policies supported FP roles in five areas: FP leadership, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), provision of primary care services, COVID-19 vaccination, and redeployment. Public ownership polices were used to operate assessment, testing and vaccination, and influenza-like illness clinics and facilitate access to personal protective equipment. Expenditure policies were used to remunerate FPs for virtual care and carrying out COVID-19-related tasks. Regulatory policies were region-specific and used to enact and facilitate virtual care, build surge capacity, and enforce IPAC requirements. By matching FP roles to policy supports, the findings highlight different policy approaches for FPs in carrying out pandemic roles and will help to inform future pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dana Ryan
- Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay Hedden
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Julia Lukewich
- Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | | | | | - Sarah Spencer
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Eric Wong
- Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Thames Valley Family Health Team, London, Ontario, Canada
- St. Joseph's Health Care London, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Gill
- Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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