4 minute read
Health Networks bring team-based care closer to home
By Maria Ryhorski and Emmanuelle Morin
The call for a redesigned health system has grown loud over the last several years. Patients voice concerns with a system that is often fragmented, difficult to navigate and ultimately not meeting their needs. The demands of practising in this environment feel unsustainable to many physicians, and the number of physicians who report being at risk of burnout is high.
Efforts are underway to address some of these system issues through a focus on team-based care. Health Networks are collaborative teams of health professionals, including physicians and community partners, who work in concert to provide fully integrated care to the individuals in a particular geographic area. They are envisioned to play a key role in improving access and quality of community based care, and strengthening health-care teams.
The services offered within each network will be informed by data to ensure that they are reflective of local needs. For example, a Health Network that serves an inner-city neighbourhood with high mental health and addictions issues would have more social workers and addictions counsellors within it compared to a suburban network where the primary need might be public health and well-baby checks.
“Currently we see emergency departments overwhelmed with patients, many of whom would be more appropriately cared for elsewhere but they often don’t know where else to go,” said Wasko. “I know that navigating the system is just as overwhelming for us as family physicians. A team-based approach with strong interdisciplinary relationships will make care more accessible, coordinated, timely and centred around patient needs. Everyone will benefit.”
Health Networks have been operating in parts of Regina for a number of years. Alison Hamilton, who lives with cystic fibrosis, recently experienced receiving care through a Health Network. She noticed a marked change for the better and was happy to share her story with SMA members.
Alison Hamilton is from Regina and lives with cystic fibrosis. Niki Afseth is an adult cystic fibrosis nurse clinician who provides care to Hamilton and others living with cystic fibrosis. Karen Zemlak is a network access services assessor coordinator with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
ALISON: A complication of living with cystic fibrosis (CF) impacts my gastrointestinal system and requires me to undergo a procedure typically performed in an acute-care setting. It wasn’t a good experience the first time I had this completed in hospital: I had to have this sensitive procedure in the emergency room with no privacy. Since the adult CF program is in Saskatoon, I was required to travel from Regina for the procedure, which was difficult with my young family. When it was time to undergo the procedure a second time, I shared my frustration of having the procedure done in hospital with Niki, not thinking there was any alternative. But she made some magic happen.
NIKI: I knew this was a nursing procedure and although I didn’t know anything about networks in Regina at the time, I knew there had to be an alternative. I contacted the Regina home-care team and was forwarded to Karen. I don’t know what magic she created behind the scenes; I just know we were able to complete the procedure in Alison’s home.
KAREN: My role is to determine and coordinate what professions are needed to provide care for patients within my network. I share an office with our network’s nurse practitioners, so communication surrounding Alison’s procedure was seamless. One of our nurse practitioners, Arnold, was equipped and willing to perform the procedure in Alison’s home and the specialist overseeing Alison’s care in Saskatoon approved of Alison receiving the treatment in this home setting.
ALISON: It was all so patient focused. Arnold contacted me and worked to schedule the procedure at my home at a time that worked for us both. The procedure lasts 24 hours, and a network-based paramedicine team came to my home midway through to check on me. Afterwards, Arnold and I were both amazed at how well it worked for both of us. From my perspective, I don’t have to worry about how network geographies or resources are structured, I just know my care includes everyone involved.
I can see now how Health Networks will work to connect all aspects of my care, including my specialist physician in Saskatoon and my family physician in Regina who are both critical to my care.
