The Innovation Support Unit is a small and nimble research team that is dedicated to improving primary care and team-based care. We develop innovative tools, methods, and approaches to help teams explore new ways of working together and provide support to communities as they implement team-based care models across healthcare settings. We are the unique merging of an academic research unit, a think-tank, a consultancy, and a primary care change lab. We work a bit differently than other teams and we think that’s a strength!
We work closely with many partners and groups across British Columbia and Canada (e.g. communities, Ministry of Health staff, patients, clinical staff, Divisions, and academics)in alignment with the WHO Healthcare Partners Pentagram – our version of that pentagram is below!
Together with these groups, we tackle emerging priorities and help to improve capacity in the primary care sector.
Our approach to research and innovation
Engaging in Learning Cycles
One of the primary approaches our team uses to investigate gaps, problems, or priorities in primary care is through a LEARNING CYCLE.
Learning cycles are quick (6-12 week) projects that are carried out with the goal of producing something that can be easily actioned or implemented by the partner. First, we work to understand our partner’s needs and what kinds of questions they need help answering. Then, we begin collecting information, often through interviews, conversations with stakeholders, or environmental scans of literature and resources. Next, we complete a rapid analysis of our findings, and together with our partners, review these findings to explore opportunities for tool or resource development, process changes, and other improvements that are feasible, actionable, and valuable for our partners. consider a couple of those findings with an eye to new tool, new processes, small changes, or improvements that partners think are both doable and helpful. Our projects are defined by our partners and often change, as the needs of our partners change! For a summary of our learning cycle process download this PDF.
Piloting, Scaling and Spreading Tools
Our continued work and presence in the primary care sphere has uniquely positioned us to identify broader system gaps and develop resources and tools to address them. We know that system change often begins at the community or clinic level. To provide support at this level, we developed various methods and tools, such as Team Mapping, Primary and Community Care (PACC) Mapping, and CapEs. These resources and tools began as smaller projects that were then tested, iteratively refined with multiple partners and communities, and scaled to reach more audiences and potential users. Today, our tools are being leveraged across British Columbia and Canada to support primary care system transformation.
Conducting Research
We also spearhead efforts to create new evidence to guide quality improvement, system changes, and policy development in primary care through a range of small action research projects and larger grant-funded research projects. We have received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Strategic Investment Fund (SIF).
Innovating From Within
As a team we think a lot about how we work together. We test and try out new ways to work together, approaches for collaboration, and project management within our own team with the goal of bringing the best of what we learn to healthcare teams. That includes considering how we share work and define roles, communicate and make decisions, continue our learning in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, review individual and team performance, gather to learn and celebrate successes, and reflect on what is working well (or not well!).