Population health perspective on high users of health care: Role of family physicians [Les grands utilisateurs des soins de santé : Point de vue de la santé de la population: Le r?le des médecins de famille]

摘要

There is little doubt that system transformation is necessary to achieve sustainable and high-quality health care for Canadians. In recent years, the care and management of high users of health care has emerged as a focal point for developing a sustainable health care system. Despite a focus on this population, the following questions have been relatively overlooked: What is the relationship between high users of health care and population health, and how can family physicians address traditionally non-clinical issues to contribute to system transformation? In many provinces, much of the high-user attention has focused on ensuring appropriate and coordinated services for high users to improve outcomes and reduce costs. While these efforts are well intentioned, we believe that family physicians need to go beyond the clinic and hospital settings to address the social determinants of health (SDOHs) that contribute to high-user illness.