What is primary health care? Primary health care is the day-to-day care needed to protect, maintain or restore our health. For most people it is both the first point of contact with the health care system and the most frequently used. We are moving towards a system in which everyone has access to a team to meet his or her own unique health care needs. For more information on Primary Health Care in Saskatchewan, go to: www.health.gov.sk.ca/primary-health-care

What does Team-Based Care Mean to you? CREATING RELATIONSHIPS Primary health care teams provide a home base for health, which includes: • Building an ongoing relationship with a variety of health professionals who work together to meet the health needs of you and your family; • Providing a range of health care services to you in an integrated and seamless fashion; • Assisting you to find the services and supports you need to maintain good health; • Supporting you in managing your chronic conditions; • Improving your access to care by using technology; and • Striving to improve the health and well-being of patients and communities. Primary health care teams ensure the community plays a key role in the design and delivery of primary health care services in order to address their specific needs by: • Helping communities assess their needs and aid in finding solutions to their challenges; • Working with communities to develop ways to improve their health (i.e. literacy programs, exercise programs, safety education, etc.); and • Working with other sectors in the community – such as education, business, seniors organizations, and other community-based organizations – to improve the community’s health.

Working together: Dental Therapists as part of team-based care I am a Dental Therapist. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I conduct basic oral dental treatments, tests and preventative dental services in a variety of settings. I also educate patients on proper oral hygiene and how to improve and maintain their oral health. For more information go to: www.sdta.ca

Working together: Dietitians as part of team-based care I am a Dietitian. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I counsel and support individuals, groups and communities to make changes in their eating habits, and prevent or treat chronic illness. I also provide education, advocacy and community development to support healthier eating in the community where I work. For more information go to: www.saskdietitians.org

Working together: Family Physicians as part of team-based care I am a Family Physician. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. My clinical responsibilities span the spectrum of medical care: health promotion and disease prevention, diagnosis, acute treatment - including the management of lifethreatening illness - chronic disease management, rehabilitation, supportive care, and pain management. For more information go to: www.quadrant.net/cpss

Working together: Licensed Practical Nurses as part of team-based care I am a Licensed Practical Nurse. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I provide patient care by observing, assessing and recording symptoms, reactions and progress in patients with a variety of care needs. I help physicians and nurse practitioners during surgeries, treatments and examinations. I also help develop, implement and evaluate nursing care plans, instruct families in proper care, and help individuals and groups take steps to maintain and improve their health. For more information go to: www.salpn.com

Working together: Midwives as part of team-based care I am a Midwife. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I assess and monitor a woman during normal pregnancy, labour and the post-partum period. I am authorized to prescribe and administer drugs; order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests; and perform invasive procedures that are authorized and related to a woman’s pregnancy. For more information go to: www.saskmidwives.ca

Working together: Nurse Practitioners as part of team-based care I am a Nurse Practitioner. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I perform physical examinations, prescribe medications, take medical histories, diagnose and treat minor acute health problems, treat stable chronic conditions, and refer patients to a specialist. For more information go to: www.srna.org

Working together: Occupational Therapists as part of team-based care I am an Occupational Therapist. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I develop individual and group programs for people affected by illness, injury, development disorders, emotional or psychological problems, and aging. I work to maintain, restore or increase their ability to care for themselves and to engage in work, school or leisure. I also develop and implement health promotion programs for individuals, community groups and employers. For more information go to: www.ssot.sk.ca

Working together: Paramedics as part of team-based care I am a Paramedic. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I provide services by responding to routine health care as well as medical emergencies, patient assessment, obtaining medical histories, administering medications, interpreting tests, referring patients to other primary health care providers; and providing education, injury prevention, and health promotion services in the home and community. For more information go to: www.collegeofparamedics.sk.ca

Working together: Pharmacists as part of team-based care I am a Pharmacist. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I dispense prescription medications, prescribe medications (where authorized under legislation), and identify, resolve and prevent drug-related problems. I provide information and education on chronic disease management, herbal and non-prescription drugs and medicines. I also manage minor ailments, health care devices, drug effectiveness, side effects and drug interactions. For more information go to: www.saskpharm.ca

Working together: Physiotherapists (Physical Therapists) as part of team-based care I am a Physiotherapist. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I provide assessment, planning and programs for physical rehabilitation and pain relief for patients. For more information go to: www.scpt.org

Working together: Psychologists as part of team-based care I am a Psychologist As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I assist individuals, couples, families, groups or communities by providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment, consultation, teaching or research. I assist patients in alleviating the symptoms of behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, help patients to work toward the maintenance and enhancement of their mental well-being, and provide psycho-educational and public education to address and help to prevent mental health concerns. For more information go to: www.skcp.ca

Working together: Public Health Nurses as part of team-based care I am a Public Health Nurse. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I use knowledge from the areas of public health science, primary health care (including the causes of health), nursing science, and the social sciences to protect and preserve the health of individuals and their communities. I provide services in the areas of outreach, community development, advocacy, health promotion, disease prevention, and education programs. For more information go to: www.srna.org

Working together: Respiratory Therapists as part of team-based care I am a Respiratory Therapist. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. I also provide patient education, testing and home care for respiratory disorders. For more information go to: www.scrt.ca

Working together: Registered Nurses as part of team-based care I am a Registered Nurse. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I provide patient care by observing and reviewing a patient’s health status whose symptoms may not be well defined or whose condition may be unstable. I plan, use and evaluate nursing care. This can include counselling, teaching, research and organizing the care required to complement health care services. For more information go to: www.srna.org

Working together: Speech Language Pathologists as part of teambased care I am a Speech Language Pathologist. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I diagnose, evaluate and treat human communication disorders, including speech, fluency, language, voice, volume, quality, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders. For more information go to: www.saslpa.ca

Working together: Social Workers as part of team-based care I am a Social Worker. As part of a team, I work with the patient, the community, and a team of health professionals to provide patient and family-centred care.

I am a licensed practitioner with a specific educational background and training. I help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance their functioning. I accomplish this by providing counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive services. I also respond, by using community development processes, to other social needs and issues, such as unemployment, racism and poverty. For more information go to: www.sasw.ca