Health TAPESTRY Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality
The Health TAPESTRY approach is moving primary health care from disease-centred care to person-focused care. Health TAPESTRY is increasing access to health and community-based programs that can help a person stay healthier for longer where they live. We do this by bringing together interprofessional health care teams, volunteers, community engagement and technology. System navigation helps people access and learn about health and community resources.
The Health TAPESTRY approach was based on an $8.7 million primary health care development and research program coordinated through the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. It is being led by McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine with partners across Canada.
Funding for the first round was provided by Health Canada with additional support by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) through the INSPIRE-PHC Program, Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative, McMaster Family Health Organization and the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University.
Partners from across Canada have helped to expand and adapt the Health TAPESTRY approach in their own communities. The Health TAPESTRY approach has been pilot tested with older adults, rural residents, First Nations individuals, and new immigrants in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Québec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 2017, the McMaster University Department of Family Medicine began Health TAPESTRY Ontario, a $3 million project, generously funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and David Braley. This project brought Health TAPESTRY to six primary care sites across Ontario.