Evaluation Report Released on Strengthening Primary Care

The introduction of nurse practitioners in Nova Scotia communities was a huge success, according to a report released today, Nov. 29, by Premier John Hamm and Health Minister Angus MacIsaac.

The pilot project was an effort to enhance the health of Nova Scotians by promoting health and preventing illness and injury.

"Most of what we have accomplished and learned confirms this project was successful in meeting community expectations by helping patients get the care they need, when and where they need it," said Premier Hamm.

The assessment shows the project, called Strengthening Primary Care, worked well at each of the four demonstration sites. The project aimed to enhance primary care services at physicians' offices or clinics in Springhill, Pictou West, Caledonia and Halifax.

As part of the project, each of the four demonstration sites:

• hired a nurse practitioner to work in collaboration with a physician and other health-care providers;

• used computerized information systems;

• adopted an alternative payment method for physicians; and

• participated in an ongoing evaluation.

For patients, the most obvious benefit is improved access to primary care providers and a broader range of primary care services including health promotion.

Rae Gunn is a patient of Dr. Gordon Young in the collaborative practice with nurse practitioner Sheila McGray in Pictou.

"Having a nurse practitioner is wonderful for the people of this community who don't have to wait as long, or travel as far, to get the care they need," said Ms. Gunn. "The number of well women's clinics she's done and the number that would have otherwise not been done in the area, has been quite overwhelming."

Among the achievements listed in the report are:

• patients readily accepted the nurse practitioner and were satisfied with the quality of care provided by the nurse practitioner and the clinic;

• the information system improved the readability and completeness of patient records;

• the quality of primary health care was improved as a result of the initiative;

• all sites reported an increased emphasis on health promotion and illness prevention, primarily through the work of the nurse practitioner in clinic and community; and

• the initiative has strengthened collaboration among primary care providers.

"We've learned that these changes were enormous and required a high level of commitment and support from communities and providers," said Mr. MacIsaac. "The next step will be to apply what we have learned from this project as we continue to improve primary health care in Nova Scotia."

The project was funded jointly by the provincial Department of Health and Health Canada's Transition Fund. Although Health Canada's funding for the project ended on March 31, 2002 the province continued to fund the project until December 2002.

Nova Scotia is recognized across Canada as a leader in the development of community-based health care, referred to as "primary health care." Health Care in Nova Scotia is changing to meet the unique needs of communities through a team-based approach to health-care delivery, all-day access to essential health services, care for people of all ages and cultures in their communities, and the appropriate use of technology to improve access to health information.