Evidence Reviews

These reviews synthesize and summarize research evidence about a priority topic. The evidence is drawn from systematic reviews of the research literature and single research studies. Some reviews are prepared in response to information requests from the AHS Scientific Advisory Group (SAG).

Transitions in Care

• Interventions to Improve the Efficiency or Effectiveness of Referrals Between Primary and Specialist Care: A Rapid Review (2019)
  Explores the evidence base of interventions aimed at improving the efficiency or effectiveness of referrals between primary care specialist care.
• Identifying the Factors Contributing to Improved Transitions of Care and Patient Outcomes (2018)
  Review sought to clarify types of patients who would benefit from improved transitions of care, interventions to improve transitions of care, and how transitions of care were understood in the literature at the time.

Virtual Care

• Cost Implications of Virtual Visits in Primary and Specialty Care (2021)
  Describes cost implications of virtual care between a physician and patient within primary and specialty care.
• Impact of Virtual Visits in Primary Care: Extended Review (2020)
  Examines the impact of virtual primary care visits on patient outcomes, outcome variations across vulnerable populations, and determining whether there are evidence-based tools to select patients for virtual visits in primary care.

Reports

Access & Attachment to a Primary Care Provider

• Informing the Attachment Process (IAP) for Primary Care (2017)
  The IAP initiative was undertaken to identify Albertans with low or no continuity with a primary care physician at the Local Geographic Area level, and to explore processes currently in place across Alberta that identify, link and support these “unattached” individuals to primary care.
• View the interactive mapping tool used to inform the attachment process.