Alliance of Community Oriented Primary Care services [ACOPC] 18 March 2011 By Dr Ade Adeagbo

The needs… a.No agreed and/or common definition and values b.Some good examples outside Europe e.g. CACHCA c.The need for learning and sharing – connecting experiences, shared problems, shared solutions, with recognition of and respect for varied policy, politics, economics and social operating contexts across Europe d.The need for framework and/or principles of practise and quality indicators e.Lack of proxy measures and good indicators of ‘good practise’ f.Recognition of reducing resource and capacity across Europe, therefore the need to reduce variations in practice across Europe Therefore, an alliance, network, coalition… ? = ECHO: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANISATIONS! Alliance of Community Oriented Primary Care

Create an intellectual space as ‘the “outside organisation” for -Debates - Shared practise & learning - Solutions Policy and “voice” functions i.e. influencing EU/EC Patients’ involvement [autonomy enhancement] as a core element and principle of strategy and operations Community Oriented Primary Care OPERATING FRAMEWORK Alliance of Community Oriented Primary Care

Agreed actions & next steps… a.Operates as a sub group of the European Forum for Primary Care: [Achieved] b.Identify other ‘actors’ – organisations and individuals – and invite them to join: [Yet to be achieved] c.It will be a ‘virtual’ organisation/group: [Achieved] d.There is need to have a defined agenda, goals, responsibilities, terms of reference etc [Achieved] e.The is the need to set clear visions, mission, objectives and values [Yet to be achieved] f.Align physical meetings to existing calendars of activities, conferences etc [Achieved] g.Initial task/work – could be: “Towards a working definition and framework of community health in Europe” [Partly achieved] Alliance of Community Oriented Primary Care

Aims… Garner information about the need and appetite for a network/alliance and the profile of current [and potential] membership, and Commence collecting thoughts that can inform the definition and the development of a framework for community oriented primary care in Europe The survey

There are 3 main areas of expectations from respondents Personal and professional development with mutual support Learning environment, knowledge and practice exchange, that influence practice The alliance having a voice and policy function/role Expectations from an European Alliance

Personal and professional development “Working in a network to articulate all our work with other partners of the health system” “Facilitate meetings between primary care services and professionals of these services, to learn from each other…to sustain each other” Expectations from an European Alliance

Learning environment, knowledge and practice exchange “Strengthen roles…and provide education and framework for such…to be organised and funded…” “Ability to share best practice with others and to design services with other groups” “Foster and stimulate the development of COPC across the community…provide networking” “Knowing how to implement certain concepts and principles (patient centred care, multidisciplinary etc.) at service level and also how we, as regional organisations, can promote, assist and develop that kind of primary care services” “Delivering the statement and definition of a community oriented primary care” “To provide the health professions with tools that enables them to work together and to provide evidence for the benefits of collaboration” “Sharing experiences in reorienting health systems and strengthening capacity” “The alliance needs…to present its achievements to other countries and use the experience of employment of the services” “Support the development of COPC services and associations…in Europe” Expectations from an European Alliance

Voice and policy function “Locally but also regionally and even on a more global scale…this can help us in achieving the goals we set up previously” “Sharing ideas and networking impact on local policy making, strengthening primary care in countries where primary care is less developed and lacks support” “I think that the alliance needs to improve worldwide communication and contact and try to use other countries healthcare systems' programmes in providing primary healthcare services” “A special place [to be] given to patients organisations to bring their special view on the objectives and quality of the services” “Advocacy for COPC: strengthen the lobbying for Community Oriented Primary Care at regional, national and mostly European level” Expectations from an European Alliance

Three broad areas: Involvement – with a purpose Influencing practice in specific areas Sharing – of skills and capacity Offers & Contributions to the Alliance…

Involvement “To participate in meetings…for exchange of knowledge and experiences” “I would like to be involved, especially in understanding of primary care, specifically urgent and unscheduled care “Carrying out studies” Offers & Contributions to the Alliance…

Contribution to knowledge and practice “I can provide easy to use accurate and cost effective diagnostic tools” “Interested to participate in a project to prove the benefits of point of care testing” “Evaluation of the impact on wellbeing” “Own experience and model of a rural clinic extending membership” “Research on patient safety” “The perspectives of the pharmacies” Offers & Contributions to the Alliance…

Sharing…of skills and capacity “Experience, contacts, research” “Best practices and evidence based practices [e.g. in Canada] “Scientific evidence” “Experiences in designing the services” “Offer our location for some meetings; up to 30 people [in Brussels] “Link to existing network e.g. SEPSAC (European secretary of community oriented health practices) Offers & Contributions to the Alliance…

There is an appetite and need for an European Alliance for community oriented primary care Notes: 25 respondents, across 15 countries Organisational types: individuals, service centres, civil society, government agencies [statutory and non statutory] and professional associations Membership size/reach: vary from 8 to over 100 Conclusion

Broadly defined as: services organised around people’s needs, integrates public health, is inclusive and multidisciplinary with clear line of sight on quality and cost effectiveness. Features: Community development and public involvement People centred with evidence of maximisation of self care Holistic care Integrated service with multidisciplinary collaboration Public health focus, including prevention and health promotion Cost effective services that achieves value for money Accessible, provides and promotes choice Driven by quality and high level of care Definition & Framework