A dedicated team helping physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists launch Collaborative Care Clinics in New Brunswick
New Brunswick’s new Physician Services Agreement has created an opportunity to expand team-based primary care.
Following engagement with the Premier and the Minister of Health, the New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) executive leadership team developed a joint initiative to create a dedicated team within the NBMS. This team’s mandate is to accelerate the identification, development, and implementation of Collaborative Care Clinics, with the dual goals of attaching more patients and improving timely access to a primary care provider.
The Accelerator is co-funded with the Department of Health and will be staffed by a physician co-lead, one full-time lead executive, and two business development officers. This small but dedicated team will help providers move from a clinic idea to a clinic that is ready to launch by connecting clinical leads with practical planning, business development, and system coordination support.
Accelerator Objectives
- Build a pipeline of opportunities for solo physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists to launch or join team-based or collaborative care practices
- Provide end-to-end (“white glove”) support to move projects from concept through planning and business set-up to clinic launch
- Coordinate with partners (the Department of Health and Regional Health Authorities) to triage provider lists, reduce duplication, and create synergies
- Report bi-weekly to escalate issues and opportunities and to share progress through the Government of New Brunswick governance process
The team has been launched with former Practice Support Director, Bruno de Passillé, and Practice Facilitators Jordan Duguay and Dave Ross, who will lead the day-to-day work with providers and system partners to turn collaborative care concepts into operational clinics.
To date, the team has participated in a Primary Care Recruitment & Attraction Working Group; weekly Physician Engagement & Coordination meetings; and Physician Services Agreement Schedule Alignment sessions. Initial meetings have been held with the Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick as well as the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association.
The Accelerator’s work is expected to translate into more Collaborative Care Clinics across New Brunswick, supporting increased patient attachment and improving access to timely primary care.
To learn more about the Accelerator’s work, contact Bruno de Passillé at bdepassille@nbms.nb.ca.
Nora Lacey, Chief of Physician & Patient Engagement
