Saskatchewan's health system, including Prairie North Health Region, has a lot to learn from Â鶹´«Ã½AVcentral Foundation (SCF) in Anchorage, Alaska, according to PNHR CEO David Fan and PNHR Primary Health Care Team Manager Charlotte Hamilton.
Fan and Hamilton were part of the approximately 30-member team from the Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Medical Association, health authorities, municipal governments, and the Health Quality Council that visited SCF Feb.7-9.
Hamilton presented PNRHA board members, who met in North Battleford March 2, with an overview of SCF, which is a non-profit organization responsible for health care delivery to Alaska's Native population. Hamilton said SCF operates a high performing Primary Health Care system and is achieving the health outcomes that PNHR and Saskatchewan's PHC system are seeking.
SCF's core product is a trusting relationship that is customer driven. Staff members and supporting infrastructure are vital to success and system information is used for quality improvement, Hamilton said.
Hamilton explained the SCF model of Primary Health Care offers a wealth of opportunities for Prairie North to expand access, enhance the patient experience, improve the health of the population, and ensure sustainable, stable delivery of PHC services.
What's needed, she suggested, to help move PHC forward is a championing of changes to medical practice, improvement in data collection and analysis, a focus on customer training and support, and better use of resources to coordinate care.
Hamilton and Fan agreed that the study tour was an excellent learning experience.
