MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 26, 2012 /CNW/ - The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) commends the Health Care Innovation Working Group (HCIWG) of the Council of the Federation for its first report, From Innovation to Action,issued earlier today. We share and support its ultimate goal of providing better care, better health, and better value for Canadians.

From Innovation to Actionsignals the increasing support among Canadians and health professionals for new and enhanced team-based primary care models, where patients have access to a family doctor, primary care nurse, and an inter-professional team of providers. The report outlines advancements in health care related to clinical practice guidelines, team based models, and health human resources.

"The CFPC applauds the HCIWG'S recommendations that are centred on innovative and effective practice models," says College President, Dr Sandy Buchman. "It is consistent with our vision for the future of family practice in Canada, the Patient's Medical Homea progressive, primary care initiative that will strengthen team-based care and improve health outcomes for the people of Canada."

"For many years the CFPC has also advocated for the development of a pan-Canadian health human resource (HHR) strategy but there has been a clear lack of progress to date," continues Dr Buchman. "The College is pleased to see the HCIWG's proposed strategy to monitor and address the HHR needs across the country. We hope this will help us plan for the future and prevent the kind of HHR shortages that have created significant access to care challenges for the people of Canada."

The CFPC also supports the use of clinical practice guidelines but warns that they will not have the impact they should unless they are developed with significant input from primary care health professionals to ensure that they will be applicable to patients in primary care/family practice settings.

"I was impressed with the thoroughness of the working group's deliberations and the particular attention to the potential dissemination of models that represent patient-centred, team-based care," says CFPC Past-President Dr Rob Boulay, who served on the HCIWG Team Based Models Project Group. "It's encouraging to see the positive direction of the report's recommendations. The consistency between the new report and the Patient's Medical Home clearly suggests that Canada's family doctors and the Council of the Federation are headed in the same direction. We look forward to continuing to work together towards common goals that will enhance health care for people in all communities across Canada."

The Patient's Medical Home is a patient-centred model of care that provides timely access to appointments; care delivery by teams of family physicians, nurses, and other health professionals; and coordination of consultations and all other aspects of required care. It serves as the hub, or home base, to provide or arrange the broad spectrum of medical and health care services needed by its patients.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the voice of family medicine in Canada. Representing more than 27,000 members across the country, the CFPC is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification, and lifelong education of family physicians and for advocating on behalf of the specialty of family medicine and family physicians. The CFPC accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada's 17 medical schools.

SOURCE: College of Family Physicians of Canada

Jayne Johnston Communications Manager The College of Family Physicians of Canada 905-629-0900 +1 ext. 303 jjohnston@cfpc.ca

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CFPC Welcomes Health Care Innovation Report: Focus is on better care, better health, better value