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April 9, 2024
Upcoming PAS changes to enhance patient attachment
On April 17, the Ministry of Health will launch enhancements to the Provincial Attachment System (PAS) and the Health Connect Registry (HCR) to help improve and accelerate patient attachment while reducing the burden on physicians. The new ‘end to end’ approach starts from when the patient registers with the Health Connect Registry until attachment is complete. This process has been developed based on feedback and engagement with communities since the start of the PAS last year.
The objective of the PAS has always been to better support patients and FPs/NPs by establishing a clear, consistent, and digitally enabled approach to attachment coordination across the province. This is one of the next steps in the process.
What does this mean?
For patients: Health Connect Registry
Patients registered with the Health Connect Registry will begin to receive regular communications (every 90 days) updating them on their status and seeking information about changes in their health to assist with re-prioritization as needed. The system will also help to link them with advice and information about available services while they wait for attachment.
This new approach will prioritize patient attachment based on:
- Complexity of health care needs (high, medium, low)
- Changes in health status (new questions will be added asking patients to identify new diagnoses or changes in their health), and
- Length of time on the registry.
For physicians: Coordination through the PAS
Attachment Coordinators will use the new data to recommend a list of patients for possible attachment with physicians who have capacity to expand their panels, taking into account complexity, any recent changes, and length of time on the HCR. Physicians will be able to build a panel with varying degrees of complexity and health care needs. For the first time, physicians will be able to receive, select, and attach patients entirely through the PAS.
How it will work
Once physicians meet the patient and the attachment is confirmed, the patient will be considered attached within the system. If the patient is not selected, they will remain on the HCR until a suitable match is found. Later this spring, the Ministry will start directing complex, high needs patients to interim, virtual supports while waiting for attachment.
More information is available in a Ministry of Health memo, and the FAQs on the Doctors of BC website under the section on “Accelerated attachment through the PAS”.
Contact: Communications & Public Affairs
Doctors of BC, 115-1665 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6J 5A4
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