Northern Health Authority - Community Collaborative Model

In June 2003, the Northern Health Authority (NHA) initiated a project to support the redesign of primary health care. The NHA used the collaborative model to help physician-led teams provide best practices in chronic disease management, primarily through increased use of Clinical guidelines and practice redesign. Northern Health's collaborative model focused on interdisciplinary teams, community involvement and the Clinical reality of multiple and concurrent diseases.

The collaborative model was adapted from the US Institute of Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) Breakthrough Series Model, which incorporates the Chronic Care Model (CCM) and focuses on building provider capacity to deliver evidence-based care for chronic diseases.

The NHA's mission was to improve the health outcomes and health status of people in the region by improving the organization and delivery of primary health care services. The initial focus was on improving the quality of chronic disease prevention and management, as measured by changes in the treatment congestive heart failure (CHF) and diabetes.

For more information about this initiative, see the Northern Health Authority Community Collaborative Model.