This is the first session in our 5-part series: The Future of Primary Care in BC.
Session 1 — The not-for-profit advantage: a better future for primary care in BC introduces the core argument of the series: why primary care works better when it is team-based, community-governed and not-for-profit.
The panelists examine what these models make possible, including continuity, proactive care, prevention, connections to social supports and why they are often better equipped to meet complex needs.
They also discussed key structural barriers in BC, including the limits of the traditional small-business physician clinic model, rising overhead costs and the need to implement a stronger not-for-profit primary care sector to scale.
Panelists:
Melinda Markey, Executive Director, REACH Community Health Centre; Vice President, BC Association of Community Health Centres
Leslie Keenan, Executive Director, Shoreline Medical Society
Leah Walker, Executive Director, KÃlala Lelum Health and Wellness Cooperative