We are pleased to announce that the BC Primary Health Care Research Network (BC-PHCRN) was recently funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) with matching funds from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR). CIHR and MSFHR have each committed $500,000 over five years, for a total of $1 million to support the network’s development and operations.

BC-PHCRN is one of 12 networks being developed in Canadian jurisdictions to support evidence-informed transformation of the delivery of primary and integrated health care. The network links into a pan-Canadian Primary and Integrated Health Care Innovations Network initiative that was launched in November 2013 as part of CIHR’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research program. The pan-Canadian primary care network has an initial focus on individuals with complex health needs for whom integrated care is critical to improve patient experience and health, health equity, and health system outcomes.

BC-PHCRN’s vision is to strengthen patients’ primary care home so that their health services are better coordinated and integrated across different parts of the system (e.g., hospital, home care).

The network’s goal is to encourage, facilitate, and support collaborations between government, health authorities, health professionals, researchers, and patients. It will seek out, develop and facilitate adoption of health care innovations to improve BC’s health care delivery system. Research completed within the network will focus on improving continuity of care.

BC-PHCRN is envisioned an “open” and inclusive hub that will:

• match primary care community questions to interested researchers;
• facilitate connections among researchers and with the patient/family groups, clinicians and policy and decision-makers; and
• help to identify opportunities and priorities.

The network’s leads include: Drs. Heather Davidson (policy lead), Anne Junker (clinical co-lead), Garey Mazowita (clinical co-lead), and Sabrina Wong (research lead). Ms. Carolyn Canfield (2014 Canada Patient Safety Champion) and the Patients’ Voices/Patients as Partners also are involved on the leadership team. This network is a partnership of diverse university, policy, clinical, and patient representatives from across BC.

To learn more about BC-PHCRN and how you can participate in its activities, visit http://spor-bcphcrn.ca