Outstanding Family Medicine Research Article Award

The Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, at The University of Western Ontario, congratulates five faculty members on receiving the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Outstanding Family Medicine Research Article Award for the preceding year (2010).

Dr. Moira Stewart, Dr. John F. Sangster, Dr. Bridget L. Ryan, Dr. Evelyn Vingilis and Dr. Ian R. McWhinney, coauthors of the paper "Integrating Physician Services in the Home - An Evaluation of an Innovative Program," Canadian Family Physician, November 2010; 56: 912-918, have recently been announced as the recipients of the CFPC award.

The objective of the study was to evaluate a novel care program, Integrating Physician Services in the Home (IPSITH), integrating family practice and home care for acutely ill patients in London, Ontario, and surrounding communities, where home care is coordinated through the Community Care Access Centre.

Participants included a total of 82 patients receiving the new IPSITH program of care (including 29 family physicians and 1 nurse practitioner), 82 non-randomized matched patients receiving usual care (and their physicians, community nurses and caregivers).

Patients and family physicians were very satisfied with the addition of a nurse practitioner to the IPSITH team. The study concluded that family physicians can be integrated into acute home care when appropriately supported by a team including a nurse practitioner. This integrated team was associated with better patient and system outcomes. The gains for the health system were reduced strain on hospital emergency departments and more satisfied patients.

The paper's authors received the award in Montreal on November 2nd at the CFPC's Section of Researchers Research Day, which was held in conjunction with Family Medicine Forum (FMF) 2011.