The following is a summary of “Perception of the Compatibility of Quebec Residency Program Characteristics with the Advanced Access Model: a cross-sectional study,” published in the May 2024 issue of Primary Care by Boulais et al.
The advanced access (AA) model is a pivotal innovation that enhances timely access within primary care (PC). It is underpinned by comprehensive care planning, demand-supply calibration, appointment system optimization, and collaborative interprofessional practices. Integrating family medicine residents into AA within university-affiliated family medicine groups (U-FMGs) holds promise for its wider adoption and access enhancement. Anchored on the four pillars of AA, this study sought to assess the theoretical alignment of Quebec’s university-affiliated clinic residency programs with AA’s core tenets.
This cross-sectional investigation distributed an online survey to chief residents and academic directors across participating clinics, yielding a robust response rate of 96% (44/46 U-FMGs). Results revealed a need for complete alignment with all four AA pillars across local residency programs. Only a quarter of programs have demonstrated compatibility regarding planning for needs and supply, primarily due to residents’ prolonged unavailability during off-site rotations. While 54% of programs aligned with the principle of regularly adjusting supply to meet demand, a significant portion (82%) fell short in optimizing appointment systems due to inadequate slots for urgent appointments. Although opportunities for interprofessional collaboration were present in 60% of programs during the first year of residency, overall compatibility with this AA pillar varied.
The findings underscore the diverse landscape of local residency programs concerning their theoretical alignment with AA principles. Future research should focus on empirically testing the hypotheses generated by this study to elucidate further the relationship between residency program characteristics and AA principles, thereby informing strategies for optimizing access within primary care settings.
Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02386-5