The HQCA conducted a case-study evaluation to understand the value, cost, and quality of care delivered by two primary care clinics in Alberta, Crowfoot Village Family Practice (CVFP) and the Taber Clinic (TC). For the past 20 years, these two clinics have operated under an alternate funding model that is unique from most other primary care clinics in Alberta whose physicians are paid using a fee-for-service model.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the prevalence, burden, and rates of use of a number of key healthcare services for overweight and obese individuals. The report also provides a rationale for the role of primary healthcare in weight management for adult Albertans living with overweight and obesity.
In 2014, the HQCA conducted a survey of adult Albertans about their use and satisfaction with healthcare services. As part of this survey, self-reported height and weight were collected from individuals in order to calculate their body mass index. According to these findings, nearly six out of 10 Albertans over the age of 18 were either overweight or obese. The estimated provincial prevalence of adults with overweight and obesity was 35.2 per cent and 23.9 per cent, respectively. In addition, obesity was associated with an increased risk of multiple comorbidities, greater use of healthcare system services, and a lower self-rated individual quality of life.
Managing overweight and obese populations, as well as comorbid conditions, falls predominantly on primary healthcare providers. Evidence shows that diverse strategies for the management of overweight and obesity within primary healthcare are associated with benefits in weight management; however, the most effective mix of providers, interventions, and duration requires further evaluation. Moving forward, Alberta may benefit from working towards a more unified strategy for weight management that includes opportunities to engage Albertans in discussions about weight management, and to increase the use of team-based care across all weight categories.
In 2010, the HQCA undertook a measurement initiative to understand the impact that primary care networks (PCNs) were having on Alberta’s healthcare system.
