title: Improving patient access to medical services: preventing the patient from being lost in translation.
abstract: The Medical Access to Service project was initiated to broadly engage participants in the health system to collectively improve service integration and patient access to primary care and specialist medical services. The Conference Model (the Axelrod Group, Willmette, IL) was used as a change vehicle. The ideal design was translated into the creation of central access and triage (CAT) processes across medical specialties, development of prioritization tools and implementation of access and efficiency through Alberta AIM (access improvement measures) collaboratives for process re-engineering. The ultimate goal for all Albertans who need care is one point-of-access--one standardized process to ensure equal access for all regardless of where they live.
authors.affiliation: EverSpring Consulting Inc.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bichel
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erfle
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wiebe
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Axelrod
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conly
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018511:Systems Integration; D013997:Time Factors; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration; D014850:Waiting Lists