Primary care
needs OurCare
We've heard from thousands of people across Canada who want a primary care system that is inclusive and comprehensive. They are calling on governments to deliver a higher standard of primary care that truly looks after everyone.
“Communities should have a say in how health care is delivered.”
“Family doctors need help. What about a whole-person
health team?”
“Doctors and nurses should be set up to focus on patients, not paperwork.”
One thing is clear:
everyone cares about primary care
Everyone we heard from agreed that primary care should be inclusive, comprehensive, and accessible to all.
We distilled hundreds of their recommendations to create the OurCare Standard: a new way to assess primary care performance across Canada.
350+
People Engaged
in Dialogue
9,000+
Respondents to the
OurCare Survey
10,000+
Hours Volunteered
to Develop Recommendations
Introducing the
OurCare Standard
What every person in Canada should be able to expect from primary care.
1
Everyone has a relationship with a primary care clinician who works with other health professionals in a publicly funded team.
2
Everyone receives ongoing care
from their primary care team and can access them in a timely way.
3
Everyone’s primary care team is connected to community and social services that together support their physical, mental and social well-being.
4
Everyone can access their
health record online and share
it with their clinicians.
5
Everyone receives culturally
safe care that meets their needs from clinicians that represent the diversity of the communities they serve.
6
Everyone receives care from
a primary care system that is accountable to the communities it serves.
How does your province measure up to the OurCare Standard?
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People with a family doctor or nurse practitioner
Source: OurCare National Survey, 2022. Available at data.ourcare.ca
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People who can access a primary care clinician when theirs is away
Source: OurCare National Survey, 2022. Available at data.ourcare.ca
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People who have a primary care clinician supported by a social worker
Source: OurCare National Survey, 2022. Available at data.ourcare.ca
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People who have a primary care clinician available on a weeknight or weekend
Source: OurCare National Survey, 2022. Available at data.ourcare.ca
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People able to get a same or next-day urgent care appointment
Source: OurCare National Survey, 2022. Available at data.ourcare.ca
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People who used an app or website to access medical information
Source: OurCare National Survey, 2022. Available at data.ourcare.ca
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Primary care clinicians who coordinate with community services
Source: Commonwealth Fund survey of primary care physicians, 2019.
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Primary care clinicians who care for patients with substance use related issues
Source: Commonwealth Fund survey of primary care physicians, 2019.
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Primary care clinicians who regularly review patient feedback
Source: Commonwealth Fund survey of primary care physicians, 2019.
See how people in your province
imagine better primary care
British Columbia
Read the reports
Manitoba
Read the reports
Ontario
Read the reports
Quebec
Read the reports
Nova Scotia
Read the reports
OurCare is making headlines
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What do Canadians want for their health care?
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Massive new survey finds widespread frustration with access to primary health care | CBC News
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Here's how 10,000 Canadians would fix primary care
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Primary-care teams, access to health records key fixes for family doctor crisis: report
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Citizens panel recommends Indigenous health dept.
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Quand on écoute (enfin) Marie Michelle
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Reorganizing primary care could alleviate family doctor crisis
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31 British Columbians give recommendations for primary health care changes
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Here's how patients want Ontario's primary health-care system to change
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We need bold reform to fix family health care
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The Current with Matt Galloway - What Canadians want from their primary care
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