Models of care toolkit
How to use this toolkit
The models of care toolkit is a practical resource for health system leaders and policy and program developers. It provides detailed information on innovative, evidence-informed models of care, with examples of care models used in Canada and internationally. To access details on models of care, view the five different topic areas: First Nations, Inuit and Métis, coordination with primary care, optimizing scope of practice, cancer care networks and virtual care and patient navigation.
Supporting the efficient delivery of cancer services
This toolkit is a resource to assist health system leaders, and policy and program developers in implementing innovative models of care that will support the efficient delivery of cancer services and help address inequities in cancer care. Developed in response to challenges identified by provincial and territorial cancer programs, the toolkit includes examples from cancer systems within Canada and around the world that can be scaled and spread to local, regional, provincial and territorial cancer programs. These models can help optimize health human resources and improve access and outcomes for equity-denied communities including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, people with low income, members of racialized communities or people living in rural and remote communities.
The toolkit is intended to support uptake of efficient and equity-focused models of care in the following areas:
- Improve the coordination between the cancer system and primary care at key points in a person’s cancer journey to better support them
- Optimize the scope of practice of cancer team members to enhance access to excellent cancer care closer to home and improve staff resiliency and satisfaction
- Leverage cancer networks and network models to support collaborative, person-centred care, especially in rural and remote communities
Innovations in virtual and digital health and patient navigation also enhance the benefits of these innovative models of care and are highlighted throughout the toolkit.
The priorities addressed in the toolkit were informed by cancer system leaders, clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals, First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, and patients. The Partnership convened a Working Group representing these perspectives to provide strategic guidance and expertise to the development of this toolkit.
Progress related to priorities
The Partnership launched a progress reporting tool that shows how the cancer system is advancing against priorities and actions set out in the refreshed Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. Learn how innovative models of care across Canada are improving cancer care services and increasing health equity.
Collaborative partnership
Since the launch of the toolkit in 2021, the Partnership continues to work with partners to update and expand it. This ensures proposed solutions reflect current best practice and emerging innovations, while addressing the practical needs of provincial/territorial cancer programs and their patients.
Implementation for a sustainable and resilient cancer system
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic placed intense pressure on Canada’s health workforce and magnified the importance of equity in health care. Although the focus has shifted to creating a sustainable and resilient cancer system, the commitment to prioritizing equity and addressing the pressure on our health human resources remains the same.
The models of care in this toolkit, together with funding to support model of care implementation and evaluation, is helping ease pressures on healthcare workers, advance equitable access to care across Canada and support jurisdictions in the shift from pandemic response to recovery.
Learn how the pandemic has impacted cancer patients in Canada and how the system is responding.
Critical success factors
Planning and implementing new models of care require careful consideration of administrative, operational and cultural factors. Organizations should consider the following in the planning phase:
Health and human resources:
Understand strengths and limitations of proposed models of care by assessing current and projected staffing levels and capacity, scope of practice legislation, training opportunities and population needs.
Remuneration:
Consider how remuneration policies may impose challenges or incentivize participation when introducing connected care models or multidisciplinary clinics.
Change management:
Implement a concurrent change management strategy that considers workplace culture, team dynamics and workforce resiliency to facilitate real change
What do you want to see next?
We want this toolkit to provide value to those who use it. We would love to hear from you about new models of care or priority areas for future development.
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