Enhancing primary care for persons with spinal cord injury: More than improving physical accessibility

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2016 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772315Y.0000000041 · Published: September 1, 2016

Spinal Cord Injury Healthcare Accessibility

Simple Explanation

Legislation mandates medical practices to be accessible by 2025, yet physical accessibility alone does not guarantee improved care for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). An interprofessional Mobility Clinic reflects on improving primary care for persons with SCI, emphasizing collaborations between funders, researchers, clinicians, and consumers. A participatory action research model incorporates consumer perspectives to enhance the Mobility Clinic’s clinical and research efforts to improve primary care for persons with SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

22 persons with SCI in SCI Consumer Network

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The Mobility Clinic model is a viable way of improving access to quality care to patients with SCI and other physical disabilities.
2
Family physicians benefit from the Mobility Clinic through reduced burden of care, increased knowledge, and a specialized service within their practice.
3
Consumer input is key to truly understanding the health care and overall needs of persons with SCI, leading to more effective and patient-centered care.

Research Summary

The study addresses the challenges in primary care accessibility for persons with SCI, emphasizing that physical accessibility alone is insufficient. It introduces an interprofessional Mobility Clinic model in Ontario, Canada, which aims to improve care quality and health outcomes for individuals with mobility impairments through enhanced access and capacity building. The research highlights the importance of consumer participation in designing healthcare services, using a participatory action research model to integrate patient perspectives and improve service delivery.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Primary Care Models

Developing interprofessional clinics that address the complex needs of individuals with SCI can improve access to comprehensive care.

Consumer-Centric Design

Incorporating patient perspectives and lived experiences into healthcare design and delivery can lead to more effective and patient-centered services.

Collaborative Research

Fostering collaborations among researchers, clinicians, funders, and patients can generate innovative solutions and improve the overall healthcare system for persons with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Increasing demands for service across a broad range of mobility issues challenge the clinic to focus services within existing resources.
2
Time conflicts for research activities due to busy clinical responsibilities.
3
Pervasive health system issues such as home care service limitations and inaccessible laboratories affect the effectiveness of clinical service.

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