Performance Measure Definition
Alberta Health
Ease of Access to Physician Services
Name and Definition
Full Name
Ease of Access to Physician Services: Rating as very easy or easy
Short Name
Ease of Access to Physician Services
Definition
The percentage of Albertans who have accessed physician services within the past year, and
who rate ease of access to these physician services as “very easy” or “easy” on a four point
scale (very easy, easy, a bit difficult or very difficult).
Health Services Delivery
Domain
Dimension
Acceptability
Efficiency
Appropriateness
No
No
No
Effectiveness
Accessibility
Safety
No
Yes
No
Category of Measure
Strategic
Type of Measure
Outcome Measure
Other Comments / Notes
Context
Business Context
Rationale
Notes for Interpretation
Organizational Strategy
2012-15 Government of Alberta Strategic Plan – Goal 3: Healthy Albertans – A health system
where Albertans have the supports they need to lead healthy lives.
The Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) has identified access to obtaining health care
services as continuing to be the most important factor associated with Albertans’ overall
satisfaction with health care services. While many Albertans are satisfied with the care they
receive once they get into the health system, a larger number say the current system could be
easier to access and wait times could be shorter. Better access is strongly associated with
greater satisfaction with healthcare services.
Physicians are the gatekeepers to a wide range of healthcare services including those of other
specialist physicians. Therefore, access to physicians is an important measure of overall ease
of access to services in the health care system. Providing reasonable and timely access to
physician services is a major objective and a defining attribute of the publicly funded health
system in Alberta.
Some slight variation may occur between the Alberta Health (AH) result reviewed and approved
by HQCA in April of a given year, and the result to be presented by HQCA in its final report on
the Satisfaction and Experience with Health Care Services Survey. The AH result is based on a
smaller sample quota, whereas the HQCA report is based on an increased sample quota and
an extended data collection period. Additionally, where results are rounded, values may differ
due to rounding rules.
As of March 31, 2012, the year-over-year increase in the number of physicians was 4.5%
(College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. Quarterly Update: Physician Resources In
Alberta, January 01, 2012 to March 31, 2012). Moreover, there were physician increases in
every zone, although there was minimal change in the North zone.
Benchmark Comparisons
The Ministry is continuing to collaborate with Alberta Health Services to implement programs to
address access issues.
Not available
Cited References
2012-15 Government of Alberta Strategic Plan.
HQCA Satisfaction and Experience with Health Care Services: A Survey of Albertans 2012 –
Alberta Health and Wellness Report (2012).
© Government of Alberta
Friday, March 07, 2014
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Performance Measure Definition
Alberta Health
Technical Specifications
Metric
Percent
Preferred Display Format
99%
Numerator
Respondents to the HQCA Satisfaction and Experience with Health Care Services: A Survey of
Albertans who responded “very easy” or “or easy” to the question: “How easy or difficult was it
for you to obtain this service from your physician? Would you say it was very easy, easy, a bit
difficult or very difficult?”
Inclusion Criteria for Survey participants who have accessed physician services within the past year.
Numerator
Exclusion Criteria for Excluded are missing values, no responses and "don't know" responses.
Numerator
Data Source(s) for Health Quality Council of Alberta surveys:
Numerator 1) Satisfaction and Experience with Health Care Services: A Survey of Albertans;
2) Provincial Survey about Health and the Health System in Alberta
Refresh Rate for Each survey is conducted biennially but the data is refreshed annually (see Notes for more
Numerator details)
Data Steward for Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)
Numerator
Denominator
The denominator is the total number of survey participants who responded to the question:
“How easy or difficult was it for you to obtain this service from your physician? Would you say it
was very easy, easy, a bit difficult or very difficult?”
Inclusion Criteria for Included are all valid responses marked on a 4 point scale: Very easy; Easy; A bit difficult; or
Denominator Very difficult.
Exclusion Criteria for Excluded are missing values, no responses, and “don’t know” responses
Denominator
Data Source(s) for Health Quality Council surveys:
Denominator 1) Satisfaction and Experience with Health Care Services: A Survey of Albertans;
2) Provincial Survey about Health and the Health System in Alberta
Refresh Rate for Each survey is conducted biennially but the data is refreshed annually (see Notes for more
Denominator details)
Data Steward for Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)
Denominator
Technical Notes
Calculation
Relationship to Other Indicators
Level of Reporting
(Numerator / Denominator) X 100.
Weighted data are used to calculate the result.
The measure Ease of Access to Services: Emergency Department Services – is collected in
the same survey process and is based on experience of the same Albertans
National
No
Provincial Yes
Zone
No
Site
No
Quarterly No
Monthly
No
Other
No
Reporting Notes
Frequency of Reporting
Annually Yes
Other Reporting Frequency
See Notes Section for further details
Limitations
Same limitations as associated with a cross-sectional survey. The results represent a
snapshot, and if a different time-frame had been chosen, the results may differ.
The measure applies only to adults 18 years and over who used healthcare services in Alberta
in the past year, who have a landline phone, and can converse in English.
© Government of Alberta
Friday, March 07, 2014
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