Learning Activity #5 (Online)
Primary Health Care in the Community
Overview:
Community based Nursing implies a nursing philosophy that guides nursing practice focused on individuals, families, and groups wherever they are, including where they live, work, play, access health services, or go to school. A major approach common to community based nursing is health promotion education and strategies. Health promotion is commonly defined as a process for enabling people to take control over and improve their health (Health Canada, 1996).
In 1978 the World Health Organization (WHO) presented an approach for health care that would ensure a global level of health to all citizens by the year 2000. This approach was called primary health care which included the practice of health promotion, prevention, and population health. The 2003 Canadian Health Care Accord introduced an agreement of all Canadian First Ministers to accelerate primary health care initiatives across the nation. This was a renewal and call to action first begun by the First Ministers in 2000 as a response to WHO’s directive. An $800 million initiative called the Primary Health Care Transition Fund was set up in 2003 to begin the process in earnest.
Basically, primary health care is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, accessible, quality care offered by multidisciplinary coordinated teams of health care professionals. Front-line professionals focus on health promotion, chronic illness management, and the prevention of illness and injury in a collaborative and cost-effective way. Basic principles of primary health care include: accessibility, public participation, health promotion, appropriate technology, and intersectoral cooperation. Both the RNABC and the Canadian Nurses Association whole-heartedly support the concept of primary health care as the foundation or context for nursing practice in British Columbia and across Canada. This impacts on nurses in all care settings, from the acute care hospital to community outreach programs.
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Today's Activities
1. Readings
Primary Health Care: Position Statement.
Primary Health Care in Transition?”
in Health Care in Canada
(pages 33 to 42)
2. Journaling
3. Forum Discussion
4. Complete Table
5. Complete Worksheet
6. Orientation Chat
Download PDF
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