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. 2022 Feb;17(3):65-80.
doi: 10.12927/hcpol.2022.26727.

Exploring Privatization in Canadian Primary Care: An Environmental Scan of Primary Care Clinics Accepting Private Payment

Aidan Bodner  1 , Sarah Spencer  2 , M Ruth Lavergne  3 , Lindsay Hedden  4
Affiliations

Exploring Privatization in Canadian Primary Care: An Environmental Scan of Primary Care Clinics Accepting Private Payment

Aidan Bodner et al. Healthc Policy. 2022 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: Private payment within primary care has not received extensive scrutiny, despite the emergence of "concierge" primary care services.

Objective: We conducted an environmental scan to explore the nature of private payment for primary care across Canada.

Method: We extracted data from clinic websites on funding models, range of services provided and whether they were independent or part of a chain. We conducted a thematic analysis of service advertisements.

Results: We identified 83 private clinics across six provinces, predominately in urban areas. Private payment-only clinics offered the widest range of services and advertisements emphasised timely, comprehensive care.

Conclusion: The extent to which these clinics and bundling of primary care with privately paid wellness services impact patients' access to care should be the subject of future research.

Contexte:: Le paiement privé dans le cadre des soins primaires n'a pas fait l'objet d'un examen minutieux, et ce, malgré l'émergence de services de soins primaires « de conciergerie ».

Objectif:: Nous avons effectué une analyse environnementale pour explorer la nature du paiement privé des soins primaires au Canada.

Méthode:: Nous avons extrait, à partir des sites Web des cliniques, des données sur les modèles de financement, sur la gamme de services fournis et sur le type de cliniques, à savoir si elles étaient indépendantes ou faisaient partie d'une chaîne. Nous avons procédé à une analyse thématique des annonces de services offerts.

Résultats:: Nous avons identifié 83 cliniques privées dans six provinces, principalement dans les zones urbaines. Les cliniques privées payantes offraient la plus large gamme de services et leurs annonces mettaient l'accent sur des soins complets et en temps opportun.

Conclusion:: La mesure dans laquelle ces cliniques et le regroupement des soins primaires avec des services de bien-être privés ont un impact sur l'accès des patients aux soins devrait faire l'objet de recherches futures.

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