PI03: A Canadian practice facilitation experience: Early successes of Newfoundland and Labrador’s MyQ Practice Facilitation Program
Alexandra Salekeen, MA; Paula Hanrahan, MN; Deanna Burns, MEd, RN BN
Abstract
In 2020, the MyQ Program was launched by the Family Practice Renewal Program (FPRP) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada. This program provides family physicians with support from dedicated practice facilitators to improve processes to improve their patient panel, access and flow, clinical and team-based care. This program was developed and implemented in response to a growing need in NL to improve the delivery and effectiveness of family practice in the province, as a part of a more integrated primary health care system. The MyQ program is unique in that it is the first to be employed on this scale in NL and because it was implemented during and despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating clinics encompass rural and urban, fee-for-service and salaried, group and solo practitioners. The program employs four local practice facilitators who each serve 3-6 clinics. The MyQ practice facilitators are provided with ongoing training throughout the MyQ program during a weekly occurring 2-hour session, a monthly deep dive on specific content, and on an ad-hoc basis through meetings with content experts from key and diverse perspectives (e.g. physicians, QI, EMR, and change management leaders). Training is provided in partnership with the Health Innovation Group (HIG), FPRP, and Memorial University (MUN).
The feedback of the applied experiences of the practice facilitators is captured during the de-brief of the training sessions and during one-on-one meetings with the MyQ program team. The early feedback from practice facilitators is mapped relative to the College of Family Physicians of Canada's national practice facilitation framework and the 12 competencies, roles, and approaches outlined therein. Building on core skills and attributes, the MyQ facilitators work in a combined role as quality improvement and EMR facilitators, in partnership with eDOCSNL.
Critical to their success has been their ability to adapt their skills and approaches to the changing needs and priorities of the clinics during the pandemic. MyQ practice facilitators have operated from the outset in an exclusively virtual environment and their communication techniques, facilitation skills and methods to establish trust with practices have been uniquely tailored to both the NL and virtual environment. The MyQ program is scheduled to conclude in early 2022. Up until then, the internal capacity of the practice facilitation team will be further strengthened.
Participating clinics encompass rural and urban, fee-for-service and salaried, group and solo practitioners. The program employs four local practice facilitators who each serve 3-6 clinics. The MyQ practice facilitators are provided with ongoing training throughout the MyQ program during a weekly occurring 2-hour session, a monthly deep dive on specific content, and on an ad-hoc basis through meetings with content experts from key and diverse perspectives (e.g. physicians, QI, EMR, and change management leaders). Training is provided in partnership with the Health Innovation Group (HIG), FPRP, and Memorial University (MUN).
The feedback of the applied experiences of the practice facilitators is captured during the de-brief of the training sessions and during one-on-one meetings with the MyQ program team. The early feedback from practice facilitators is mapped relative to the College of Family Physicians of Canada's national practice facilitation framework and the 12 competencies, roles, and approaches outlined therein. Building on core skills and attributes, the MyQ facilitators work in a combined role as quality improvement and EMR facilitators, in partnership with eDOCSNL.
Critical to their success has been their ability to adapt their skills and approaches to the changing needs and priorities of the clinics during the pandemic. MyQ practice facilitators have operated from the outset in an exclusively virtual environment and their communication techniques, facilitation skills and methods to establish trust with practices have been uniquely tailored to both the NL and virtual environment. The MyQ program is scheduled to conclude in early 2022. Up until then, the internal capacity of the practice facilitation team will be further strengthened.
Gillian Bartlett (NACRG President)
gillian.bartlett@health.missouri.edu 8/5/2021Very interesting work and glad to see this happening now in NFLD. I would be interested to know how the PFs were funded.