title: Enhancing care for individuals with mobility impairments: lessons learned in the implementation of a primary care-based mobility clinic.
abstract: Persons with mobility impairments experience significant barriers to primary healthcare. This study examines key lessons learned, as derived from interviews with referral sources and Centre for Family Medicine Mobility Clinic team members, in the development and implementation of a primary care-based mobility clinic aimed at reducing these barriers, and it reflects on the implications of this model of care on the system of care. Results highlight the importance of accessibility, specialized equipment, promotional activities and management support as well as challenges reflected by system barriers to care. The results of this study have implications for the application of this model of care in other settings.
authors.affiliation: Joseph Lee, MD, CCFP, FCFP, MClSc(FM), is the chair and lead physician with the Centre for Family Medicine (CFFM) Family Health Team, in Kitchener, Ontario, and is an assistant clinical professor with the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario. Dr. Lee can be contacted at 519-783-0021 or by email at jlee@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: James Milligan, BSc, PT, MD, CCFP, is a family physician with the CFFM Family Health Team, lead physician with the Mobility Clinic and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.affiliation: Loretta M. Hillier, MA, is a research associate with the CFFM Family Health Team and a research associate with specialized geriatric services, St. Joseph's Health Care London, and the Aging, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care Research Centre of the Lawson Health Research Institute.
authors.forename: Loretta M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.affiliation: Colleen McMillan, BES, MSW, PhD, is the lead social worker with the CFFM Family Health Team and an assistant professor with Renison University College, University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002170:Canada; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care