Primary Care Connector for Access to Primary Care
(ENGAGE Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to determine if a Primary Care Connector (a service that assists in finding primary care doctors) can help individuals struggling to find a primary care doctor in Toronto. Participants will either receive the name of a doctor accepting new patients or information on how to find one. The trial will assess which method more effectively connects people to a primary care provider. This trial is ideal for adults without a primary care doctor who are struggling to find one and live in the Toronto area. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to improving access to primary care services in their community.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?
The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the trial focuses on connecting people to primary care providers.
What prior data suggests that the Primary Care Connector is safe for helping people connect to primary care providers?
Research shows that safety in primary care is crucial. Studies have found that primary care can prevent issues like delays in diagnosis and medication problems. This suggests that the system used in this trial, the Primary Care Connector, is likely safe. It aims to help people connect with doctors more easily.
Specific data on the Primary Care Connector is not yet available because it is a new concept. However, the trial does not involve testing a medication or device, which typically carry more risks. Instead, it focuses on providing names of doctors accepting new patients, which generally poses low risk.
Overall, using the Primary Care Connector appears to be a safe way to help people find a doctor. Similar methods have not reported any harm.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to improve access to primary care. Unlike traditional methods that simply provide information on finding a doctor, the "Primary Care Connector" actively works to link participants with a primary care provider in their area. This proactive approach could significantly enhance patient engagement and ensure that individuals receive timely medical attention. By potentially removing barriers to healthcare access, this trial could lead to more consistent and preventive healthcare for many people.
What evidence suggests that the Primary Care Connector is effective for connecting people to primary care providers?
Research has shown that a Primary Care Connector, available to participants in this trial, can assist individuals struggling to find a primary care doctor. Studies have found that programs using these connectors slightly improve access to primary care in communities that need it most. Connectors actively link people to healthcare providers, potentially leading to better health outcomes. This method might also reduce healthcare costs over time by ensuring early access to necessary care. While further research is needed to fully understand its impact, current evidence supports the effectiveness of connectors in improving access to primary care.678910
Who Is on the Research Team?
Andrew D. Pinto, MD CCFP FRCPC MSc
Principal Investigator
Unity Health Toronto
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults (18+) in the Toronto area who do not currently have a family doctor or primary care provider and are considered vulnerable, meaning they may face extra challenges accessing healthcare.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants receive assistance from a Primary Care Connector or are provided with existing information on finding a primary care provider
Follow-up
Connectors follow-up with participants to ascertain whether they were able to get access to a provider
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Primary Care Connector
Trial Overview
The study compares two ways to help people find a primary care provider: one group gets direct help from a trained Primary Care Connector with local knowledge, while the other group receives written information on how to find a provider. The goal is to see which method works better.
How Is the Trial Designed?
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Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
A primary care connector will try to connect participants to a primary care provider in their area.
Participants will be provided with existing information on ways of finding a primary care provider.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Unity Health Toronto
Lead Sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborator
Citations
Collaboration with community connectors to improve primary ...
This study presents a way for health services to improve service access for hardly reached people through an exploration of how staff can find and collaborate ...
Use of HIT to Increase Primary Care Access in Medicaid ...
We found that the use of HIT as part of our ED-PCP Connector Program intervention was modestly effective at addressing the problem of helping Medicaid patients ...
The impact of improving access to primary care - PMC - NIH
The potential for long‐term reduction in utilization and costs with better access to primary care is significant, but not easily nor automatically achieved.
The Effectiveness of Policies to Improve Primary Care ...
More research is needed to fully establish the effectiveness of AHEC programs, both rural and urban, in bringing primary care physicians to underserved areas.
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nhhealthyfamilies.com
nhhealthyfamilies.com/providers/primary-care-and-prevention-focused-care-model--pcpfcm-.htmlThe Primary Care Connect (PCC) Program
Our PCC program creates a “dynamic duo” between you and your patient in their quest to be a Health Hero.
Patient Safety in Primary Care: Conceptual Meanings ... - PMC
Patient safety in primary care is an emerging priority, and experts have highlighted medications, diagnoses, transitions, referrals, and testing as key safety ...
Primary Care and Patient Safety: Opportunities at the Interface
Primary care can prevent harms such as diagnostic delays, medication-related safety events, and avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions.
Medical Connectors: Characteristics and Regulations
Positronic offers insight into medical connectors' characteristics and regulations to follow to ensure safety in critical applications.
Safety Strategies in Primary Care - Safer Healthcare - NCBI
In this chapter we briefly outline current knowledge of patient safety in primary care and then consider whether the five strategic approaches can be applied ...
Harnessing the Electronic Health Care Record to Optimize ...
The tool notifies primary health care professionals when a patient data record is incomplete. Alerts are triggered or sent to a patient as a ...
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