Priority 3 from the Seniors' Health (Alberta, Canada) PSP

UNCERTAINTY: In what ways can healthcare service accessibility for older adults living in a rural community be improved? (JLA PSP Priority 3)
Overall ranking	3
JLA question ID	0083/3
Explanatory note	People who live in rural areas deserve equitable access to healthcare. There needs to be easier access through different and innovative systems which meet the needs of those seniors living outside major urban centres
Evidence	None identified
Health Research Classification System category	Generic health relevance

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	Lack of ready access to services in rural and remote communities and the fact that many seniors have to travel several hours for a half-hour appointment with a specialist or a one-hour diagnostic procedure. I have had many clients refuse to undergo such investigations due to travel distance. ~ Ongoing gaps in service, especially in rural and remote communities ~ Maintaining primary care and emergency services in a remote rural area of southern Alberta. ~ I am concerned with the burden of having to travel, often great distances, to larger centers to seek diagnosis and treatment of illness or disease.
Submitted by	Health/Social care provider 28, Caregiver 6, Older Adult 6, Other 1

Extra information provided by this PSP

Original uncertainty examples

Lack of ready access to services in rural and remote communities and the fact that many seniors have to travel several hours for a half-hour appointment with a specialist or a one-hour diagnostic procedure. I have had many clients refuse to undergo such investigations due to travel distance. ~ Ongoing gaps in service, especially in rural and remote communities ~ Maintaining primary care and emergency services in a remote rural area of southern Alberta. ~ I am concerned with the burden of having to travel, often great distances, to larger centers to seek diagnosis and treatment of illness or disease.

Submitted by

Health/Social care provider 28, Caregiver 6, Older Adult 6, Other 1

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0083
PSP name	Seniors' Health (Alberta, Canada)
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP.	97 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	13 August 2018