The Integrated Care Team Research and Evaluation project was a multi-year research project to understand team-based primary health care in the Frame Lake (Yellowknife) and Fort Smith clinics. Team-based health care was introduced into these two clinics by the Government of the Northwest Territories through the Primary Health Care Reform Initiative, which is based on relationship-based and culturally safe care for Indigenous peoples.

The Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services and Hotıì ts'eeda collaboratively developed a research and evaluation plan in 2019. The project was licensed for research in the Northwest Territories by the Aurora Research Institute (license number 16850). It was reviewed and approved by the Aurora College Research Ethics Committee (project number 20201201). The project was launched in 2021 by Hotıì ts'eeda.

Team-based care for patients means that health care providers work in a close and cooperative way, to make sure patients can get the care they need, when they need it. Team-based care allows health care staff to get to know patients better and provide care that respects Indigenous cultures.  The goals of the project were to:

• Understand if the team approach is working for patients;
• Find out if team-based care is cost effective;
• Understand if patients experience respect for Indigenous culture when they receive care.

More information about the project can be found in a Summary Report and in project results posters, available in English, Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì, Dëne Sųłıné Yatıé (Chipewyan), Nēhiyawēwin (Cree) [Available soon], Wıìlıìdeh [Available soon], and French. 

For more information, contact ht.funding@Tlicho.com.