Happy spring! We are excited to share the following updates with you.
In This Update
- Research Activity Updates
- Recruitment: MAPLE-CHF (Multidisciplinary Approach for high-risk Patients Leading to Early diagnosis of Canadians with Heart Failure)
- Knowledge Translation: BC-PHCRN Research Round-Up Event
- Knowledge Translation: OECD Patient Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS)
- Upcoming Research: Pandemic pREparedness engaging Primary cARe and Emergency Departments (PREPARED)
- Events
- Partner Activities & Events
- Subscribe to the BC-PHCRN Newsletter
Research Activity Updates
Recruitment: MAPLE-CHF (Multidisciplinary Approach for high-risk Patients Leading to Early diagnosis of Canadians with Heart Failure)
Led by Dr. Nathaniel Hawkins at UBC, MAPLE-CHF is the Canadian arm of SYMPHONY, an international randomized controlled trial screening for heart failure in the community. Patients at risk for heart failure are identified through their electronic health records and randomized to usual care or a screening strategy using natriuretic peptides and artificial intelligence echocardiography. This study involves an international collaboration of 5 randomized controlled trials using common study design elements and endpoints in 5 respective countries (Canada, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, United States).
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact project coordinator Andrea Chee at achee01@mail.ubc.ca
Knowledge Translation: BC-PHCRN Research Round-Up Event
In November 2024, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the BC-PHCRN hosted a virtual Primary Health Care Research Round-Up where we brought together researchers and decision-makers to discuss leading primary health care research and initiatives in BC. Primary care is the foundation of a high-functioning health care system and critical for achieving health care’s quintuple aim (enhancing patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs, improving the health care team experience and achieving health equity). We were honoured by our presenters, Drs. Erika Penner, Lesley Lutes, Walter Wodchis, Carolyn Steele-Gray, Alex Singer and Jacqueline Kueper, who spoke on building capacity (psychologists, health data and team-based care assessments), and sustainability (use of artificial intelligence) in primary health care.
This session was not recorded. Our team developed a brief providing an overview of what was presented and discussed.
Knowledge Translation: OECD Patient Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS)
National results for the pan-Canadian OECD PaRIS study were released February 20, 2025 (view full report here). Led by Drs. Sabrina Wong and Rubee Dev in British Columbia, OECD PaRIS is an international and pan-Canadian initiative developing, standardizing and implementing a new generation of indicators of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for primary care. The results from these data are intended to support practice improvement and knowledge of patient population for primary care providers, as well as contribute to national awareness of primary care climate in Canada.
Upcoming Research: Pandemic pREparedness engaging Primary cARe and Emergency Departments (PREPARED)
Recently funded, the goal of this study is to enhance surveillance, improve care and health system efficiency, accelerate biomanufacturing of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, and facilitate patient linkage to clinical trials, thereby improving health system efficiency and pandemic preparedness. PREPARED aims to integrate a point-of-care multi-pathogen testing system into primary care clinics and emergency departments. The four interrelated objectives are to:
- Enhance surveillance – identify new viruses and detect future pandemics
- Improve patient care and health system efficiency – improve rapid testing for multiple viruses
- Accelerate the development of treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tests
- Facilitate linkage to trials – link patients to clinical trials
More details will be shared in the coming months.
Events
Event Summary! The 37th Annual CHSPR Conference: Primary Care at A(nother) Crossroads
Led by Dr. Sabrina Wong, the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research hosted the 37th annual health policy conference, which brought together government representatives, health authorities, health professionals, researchers and patient partners from across Canada to address the primary care crisis. The conference focused on the Quintuple Aim: (1) improving population health, (2) enhancing the patient experience, (3) enhancing the provider experience, (4) reducing costs and (5) advancing health equity. This focus brought together a pan-Canadian audience from provincially delivered and funded systems to learn from each other and discuss ways to apply evidence to practice. Paul Hébert, President of CIHR, and Ted Patterson, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Primary Care Division with the Ministry of Health opened and introduced the Crichton Lecturer, Dr. Monica Aggarwal, University of Toronto. The Anne Crichton Lecture is supported by the Crichton Health Systems and Policy Learning Fund which was created in honor of Dr Crichton and her contributions to the advancement of health care systems in Canada. You may watch the Crichton Lecture here.
Over a period of 1.5 days, 5 panels spoke to each of the aims – each panel consisting of a diverse group of researchers, provincial government representatives, primary care providers and patient partners. Two pre-conference sessions were also held, (1) developing metrics to evaluate team-based care models, and (2) co-building relationships at the speed of trust. The team-based care evaluation built off a recent Best Brains Exchange that was led by Dr. Sabrina Wong in January 2025. The “Speed of Trust” workshop, led by the Canadian Primary Care Research Network Patient Council, sought to identify and co-design knowledge products from the conference, as well as discuss strategies on how to increase underrepresented populations’ participation in primary care clinical trials.
CHSPR Webinar Series
Better Value in Primary Care: Experience from Alberta
April 8, 2025 | 12-1 pm PT | Webinar | Details and registration
Speaker: Kim Simmonds, CEO, Primary Care Alberta
Seminar with Sabrina Wong
April 22, 2025 | 12-1 pm PT | Hybrid | Details and registration
Canadian Primary Care Research Network Learning Series 2 | Advancing Indigenous Health: Considerations for Equity-based Research, Community Voice and Data Sovereignty to Support Service
All Canadians have been encouraged to walk together with Indigenous brothers and sisters on the path of reconciliation. Many of the Calls to Action require continued learning and capacity transfer, that is, listening to truths and understanding what Indigenous peoples would like to see happen and how they would like to be engaged or involved in advancing meaningful healing and wellness journeys. This series of presentations will explore key considerations for advancing Indigenous health through equity-based research, community, data sovereignty and service reorientation. Inspired by experts’ experiences in building up a system of research and care that addresses the needs of Indigenous peoples, attendees will gain insights into strategies that promote Indigenous leadership, meaningful partnerships, and considered research methods to promote equity-based research to inform equity-based health care and services.
Transformation to a patient-centred medical home in primary care led and delivered by Indigenous communities: Improving access, equity and relational care
April 23, 2025 | 9-10 am PT | Webinar | Click here for more details
First Nations Data Sovereignty
May 28, 2025 | 9-10 am PT | Webinar | Click here for more details
Indigenous Health and Data Sovereignty
June 25, 2025 | 9-10 am PT | Webinar | Click here for more details
Partner Activities & Events
UBC Innovation Support Unit
The Innovation Support Unit (ISU) improves the health of British Columbians by supporting innovation and improvement in primary care. This is accomplished by collaborating with primary care programs and projects in our province and by connecting academic knowledge and our faculty with these projects.
Do you want to learn about how your team is working together and contribute to team-based primary care policy in BC? See here for more information about the evaluation being conducted by the Innovation Support Unit and how your primary care team can get involved!
UBC Health
Save the Date for a free two-day event hosted by UBC Health:
Bridging Research & Action: Catalyzing collaboration to bring knowledge into action across BC
May 15 & 16, 2025 | In-person and virtual
This free two-day event will bring together researchers, healthcare leaders, policy-makers, and community partners from across BC to explore interdisciplinary health research and actionable strategies to improve health systems and outcomes in the province. You can attend in-person at UBC Okanagan (Kelowna), UBC Point Grey (Vancouver), or virtually. Registration opens early 2025. Learn more here.
Subscribe to the BC-PHCRN Newsletter
As always, we welcome you to share our newsletter with anyone in your community who may be interested in our research or events. We’re happy to connect with new members, and learn about your interests in public health, primary care or health research!
Please feel free to join here or send us an email.
We also encourage members to join the Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN) newsletter mailing list and the LinkedIn page to stay up to date with activities and vibrant conversations about primary care, patient-oriented research, policy happening across the national network!
BC Primary Health Care Research Network 
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