New training designed to help boost patient access to care

Developed by AMA’s Accelerating Change Transformation Team, the newly launched Access to Continuity for Primary Care training offers clinic teams simple but impactful ways to get Albertans into see their health care providers quickly and efficiently. 

Evidence shows when patients consistently see the same provider they have better health outcomes. This relational continuity not only improves patient satisfaction, but it also boosts clinic team satisfaction – both key to a high performing health system.  

To keep relational continuity a priority during Alberta’s current reality of high demand for health care, the training teaches manageable, actionable steps. These include:

• Measuring supply of appointments and patient demand for care
• Optimizing the team
• Simplifying appointment types
• Addressing backlog and no-shows
• plus much more!  

The evidence-informed modules were developed by an ACTT curriculum team and reviewed by Alberta physicians. The 14 courses can be completed at your own pace on AMA-ACTT's online learning platform, Learn@AMA.  

Overall, I am really impressed and learned useful tools that I will personally be implementing.

Alberta’s primary care physicians aren’t the only ones ACTT is designing access training for. Launching soon, a curriculum for non-family medicine specialists or team members with a caseload, plus the clinic staff who support them. The Access for Specialists and Team Members with a Caseload will help those involved to address factors contributing to delays in patients' access to care. 

Both sets of new access training highlight how improvements are possible. Small, incremental changes can make a big difference in Alberta patients getting care and this training shows how to take the first steps. 

• Sign-up for Access to Continuity for Primary Care training
  Learners need to have a Learn@AMA Account to access the curriculum
  
  Don’t have an account?
  Complete the Application Form
  
  
• To be notified when Access for Specialists and Team Members with a Caseload readiness activities and training become available, sign-up for email notifications