Information for Primary Care Providers
Primary care is the foundation and entry point of the health care system. General research themes show that reliable and accessible primary care services lead to:
- less need for hospital and emergency department visits
- safer care
- more satisfied patients
- lower health care costs
- health system sustainability
Manitoba is working towards an Integrated Primary Care System
Primary care in Manitoba, similar to primary care in many other jurisdictions, is a complex eco-system where many individual businesses, standards, processes, governance and funding structures exist. We are working to use our multi-layered models of care to our advantage, and use technology to have our system function in in a more integrated manner, working towards a common set of standards to provide reliable and accessible care to make the health system more effective. These challenges and opportunities are drivers for the current policy direction in Manitoba.
Team Based Care
Primary care has a substantial opportunity to help shift the demand from more expensive acute care. It can do this by offering care sooner, and better, and by helping prevent or reduce costlier health complications. Primary care as the entry point can also help bring together other community resources such as public health, mental health, home care, etc., and better wrap its services around patients and their families. By joining forces with these other community service entities, patients receive more continuous and comprehensive care, and help them stay in the community longer and do not get lost when care is transitioned. By having these networks of providers (regardless of the funding and governance structure) working together, towards a common set of standards, you can offer the population a wider set of services in a more reliable and accessible manner.