A new free mobile and web application is offering North Shore clinicians instant access to an upto-date directory of local available programs and services for patients with chronic conditions.
The HealthConnection App was launched in response to a felt need, and features a comprehensive list of programs offered by both public and non-profit agencies as well as a list of doctors and private home health providers working in North and West Vancouver.
Those involved in developing the app are unaware of anything similar being offered elsewhere in the province. "The uniqueness and really exciting aspect of this, beyond the partnership approach that we used to develop and maintain it, is the opportunity for this to expand and be used by other communities," says Ann Sarte, team lead, North Shore Chronic Disease Services, Vancouver Coastal Health.
The app was designed by a working group comprised of representatives of Vancouver Coastal Health and the North Shore Division of Family Practice.
North Shore Chronic Disease Services offers a range of clinical and education programs, and services to support people living with conditions like diabetes, COPD and asthma. It offers group and individual self-management support and education, and serves clients of all ages. "We also take part in community outreach as a way to connect with at-risk and vulnerable populations on the North Shore who may not have access to the regular programs and services we provide at West Vancouver Community Health Centre or at Lions Gate Hospital," says Sarte, a working group member.
The North Shore Division of Family Practice is a non-profit society made up of family physicians on the North Shore.
The working group's first major initiative was to establish a high needs primary care clinic providing health care services to vulnerable people facing medical, mental health or socio-economic challenges, and lacking regular access to a family physician. The HealthConnection Clinic is located at 148 East 15th St., in North Vancouver.
"It's quite an innovation because it was established in partnership between Vancouver Coastal (Health) and the (North Shore) Division of Family Practice. The intent of the clinic is to provide primary care to individuals with complex health needs, many with mental health and addiction issues, who have a hard time attaching to a traditional family practice," says Sarte.
The HealthConnection Clinic opened its doors in July 2013. As of June 1, it was able to expand its hours of operation, thanks to additional funding received.
"A nice aspect of the clinic is that it's a teambased approach, it's definitely not structured like a walk-in clinic," says Sarte. Patients have access to a family physician, nurse practitioner, social worker, chronic disease nurse and a medical office assistant. Clinic team members also work with community agencies to support patients needing help with issues like housing, income and access to food.
Patients find their way to the clinic either by being referred from other community organizations (for example the Lookout Emergency Aid Society North Shore Shelter, North Shore Neighbourhood House, Canadian Mental Health Association and Hollyburn Family Services Society), or by getting in touch on their own.
"The working group has been quite busy because in addition to establishing that clinic. ... we've been trying to address this gap that was identified where family physicians were having a really difficult time finding information on programs and services that could support their patients and their health management," says Sarte.
The working group conducted a needs assessment survey of North Shore-based general practitioners in 2011 to find out how they were accessing information regarding local programs and services, and how they would prefer to do so. The survey found that only 55 per cent of doctors were aware of VCH programs and would regularly refer their patients. More troubling was even fewer, only 10 per cent, were aware of services and resources provided by community agencies.
The working group was troubled by these numbers, suggesting beneficial programs were potentially running under capacity, patients weren't getting needed supports and that clinicians were frustrated overall.
Participating physicians indicated that 38 per cent of their access to information occurred through word of mouth and 34 per cent through print directories.
Since 2008, North Shore Chronic Disease Services had been annually publishing and distributing a print directory of local programs and services to North Shore family physicians, VCH staff and community service providers, but staff realized there were a number of inherent challenges in doing so. "As soon as you print and send it out, it's out of date, and it just would constantly grow. So it wasn't always easy. It became well over 100 pages, so it wasn't the easiest way to find information quickly," says Sarte.
With further evidence from the needs assessment survey supporting the concept of launching an online directory and corresponding app for iPhone, the working group went ahead, launching the HealthConnection App and website in the fall of 2014.
"The hoped benefit of the app in North Shore physicians' daily practice (is to provide) one-step access to information on all North Shore community programs and physicians," says Dr. Dean Brown, physician lead and co-chairman of the working group.
"Typically, you would eat up valuable time, wading through piles of paper, hoping to find it. Now, it's right there with a few clicks," says Brown, of the instant access to available community resources for patients with chronic conditions and health needs.
The HealthConnection App's searchable database offers specific program information, including details like location and contact information, hours of operation, program fees as well as how referrals work.
The app is currently downloadable for free for iPhone and iPad users. Other mobile users can access the same information via its website.
"Any information that we include on the website is the same information that somebody using the app would be able to access.
Once we make updates to any of the program information available through the app, it's also live on the website. It's always live and we can rest assured that our users are accessing what information we have as current," says Sarte.
Since the app's launch, the working group has measured 5,000 different visitors to the website, with approximately 800 users accessing the site via their mobile device. They've also seen more than 130 downloads of the iPhone app.
"The app is hopefully useful not just for doctors, but for all health-care providers and also for the public," says Brown.
Patients interested in self-management of their conditions, care providers or family members of someone facing a particular diagnosis will also find the information useful, adds Sarte.
This type of live application means developers are better able to routinely assess how it's working for their varied end users - doctors, other care providers and patients included - and then regularly use that input to improve it. "Technology is always changing, which is challenging, but it also is an opportunity to better respond to the changing needs of the people we serve," says Sarte.
Also, the app could grow to serve more communities. "The way we've developed the site, there's always room for growth. We're focusing on the North Shore because our working group is all about services and supporting residents on the North Shore. But, for example, if Vancouver Coastal Health, which, it covers a larger geographic region, if people in Vancouver or Richmond, if they were interested, there's potential for them to add programs and make it bigger," she says.
The working group is interested in hearing from anyone who has used the app or website. Users are encouraged to email comments and suggestions to [email protected].
For more information on the HealthConnection Clinic, visit divisionsbc.ca/northshore.
For more information on the HealthConnection App, visit healthconnectbc.ca or the Apple App Store.
