Primary Health Care
What is it?
The Primary Health Care approach means being attentive to and addressing the many factors in the social, economic, and physical environments that affect health. It places citizens and patients on an equal footing with health professionals in respect to decision making about health issues through five principles.
Take Action
Drag and drop the term to its matching definition.
Right and responsibility to be active partners in making decisions about one’s health care and their health
Process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health
Commitment from all sectors (government, community and health) for meaningful action on health determinents
Methods of care, service delivery, procedures and equipment that are socially acceptable and affordable
Supply of essential health responsibility to all people with no unreasonable geographic or financial barriers
Accessibility
Public Participation
Health Promotion
Appropriate Technology
Intersectoral Cooperation
Primary Care
VCH operates primary care clinics whereby people who meet the mandate can access services. Primary care clinics use a PHC approach.
Determinants of Health
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there are key determinants of health that affect the health of the clients we care for. They are:
- Income and Social Status
- Social Support Networks
- Education and Literacy
- Employment/Working Conditions
- Social Environments
- Physical Environments
- Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills
- Healthy Child Development
- Biology and Genetic Endowment
- Health Services
- Gender
- Culture
Take Action
Watch the videos and reflect on the following questions:
- Which determinants of health are evident in these videos?
- How do you see the determinants of health impacting the clients you will care for in the community?
Care Management
Part of partnering in the client’s journey is accepting their wishes for future health care when they are no longer able to communicate for themselves.
Take Action
Before we walk along side our clients, we have to understand where they are coming from.
1. Watch the introduction to the video “Hope that Helps: Trauma Informed Care.
Take Action
It is important to walk along side our clients on their journey to optimize their health.
2. Watch the video and write down how you can support clients’ transition from one point of care to another.