Increasing Access to Primary Care

The healthcare system is in crisis, with access appearing to be at an all-time low due to increased demand and reduced supply. There is an urgent need, particularly in primary care, to create evidence-informed, value-based strategies that improve efficiency and enhance care. First Contact Physiotherapy (FCP) is one solution that focuses on integrating physiotherapists into primary and community care to increase access to both prevention and rehabilitation services, and thereby diverting demand from primary care physicians. The evidence for FCP will be presented along with the status of initiatives and structural barriers that need to be removed to facilitate improved access to essential primary care.  Featuring: Courtney Bean, Vice President, Strategic Solutions and Partnerships, VHA Home HealthCare Jordan Miller, Assistant Professor and Associate Director (Physical Therapy), School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University Susan Robarts, Robarts Healthcare Consulting Emily Stevenson, Registered Physiotherapist, Associate Director of Community Rehabilitation, West Toronto Community Health Services Dr. Jeffrey Gollish, Former Medical Director and Head of Arthroplasty, Sunnybrook Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre Dr. Wendell Block, Locum MD, Gateway CHC (Semi-Retired)