What is the problem?

Primary care is the care a person receives when they first enter the health care system, most often in their own community from a family doctor or a nurse. Primary care is important. For example, through a comprehensive health assessment, primary health care providers can detect diseases that were not previously recognized and can offer more health promotion and prevention. But previous research by the H-CARDD program suggests that the majority of adults with developmental disabilities (DD) do not receive these assessments. In addition, people with DD are more likely than others to be hospitalized for conditions, including chronic illnesses, which could be better managed in the community. Also, people with DD commonly have multiple physical and mental health issues for which they are prescribed multiple medications at a level higher than the general population. This, too, can pose a potential risk to their health.

Improved access to primary care would likely provide important health benefits to people with DD.

How is H-CARDD helping?

The H-CARDD program is working with Family Health Teams to develop strategies to help adults with DD increase their access to comprehensive primary care-based health assessments.

The H-CARDD program is in keeping with Ontario's Action Plan for Health Care (2012). It stresses that people who have faster access to family health care stay healthier, get connected to the right care, and are less likely to require hospitalization.

For more information, please contact:

Ian Casson, MD, MSc, CCFP, FCFP
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University
Phone: 613 533 9303
Email: ian.casson@dfm.queensu.ca