Collaborative Applied Research for Equity in Health Policy and Systems

CARE Lab

About this Program.

The Collaborative Applied Research for Equity in Health Policy and Systems (CARE) Lab, based on Treaty 6 Territory at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health, collaborates with the IPHCPR Network to advance equity-focused health policy and systems research.

Led by Dr. Stephanie Montesanti, the lab leverages its expertise in integrated primary healthcare and policy innovation to support Indigenous-led research and community-driven solutions. Through close partnerships with Indigenous communities, practitioners, and policymakers, the CARE Lab contributes to the development of sustainable, people-centred healthcare models.

The CARE Lab engages patients, families, and communities to achieve significant and impactful research findings by mobilizing a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, systems thinking, equity-focused policy analysis, and implementation science.

Key initiatives include:

  • Designing and evaluating patient and community engagement strategies to transform health systems and policies

  • Identifying, implementing, and assessing multi-level interventions to promote health equity

  • Examining factors that drive policy and systems change to reduce health disparities

  • Mobilizing knowledge inclusively to foster systemic change on urgent health issues

Check out some recent reports!

BRIEF

SUMMARY REPORT

Adapting the Patient Medical Home Model in Alberta for Indigenous primary health care: Enhancing access, equity, and relational care

In response to growing health disparities among Indigenous populations, the Alberta government has pledged its commitment to enhancing primary health care (PHC) services to be more equitable, accessible, and culturally safe. Building upon discussions from a May 2021 virtual forum, a meeting was held on March 6, 2023, at the University of Calgary, hosted by the Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research Network. This gathering convened 25 experts from various organizations, including Alberta Health Services’ Indigenous Wellness Core and Siksika Health Services, to critically examine the Patient Medical Home (PMH) model and its applicability to Indigenous PHC delivery.

The meeting featured presentations, roundtable discussions, and insights from an adapted PMH model implemented by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health in Queensland, Australia. The outcomes of this meeting aim to inform innovative, Indigenous-led PHC solutions in Alberta.

BRIEF

Achieving Primary Health Care Equity with Indigenous Peoples: A Policy for an Alberta Indigenous Primary Health Care Board.

This report reviews the current state of PHC for First Nations, Métis, and urban Indigenous communities in Alberta. It reveals how fragmented, under-resourced, and disconnected services contribute to significant inequities in access and health outcomes. Using an environmental scan and insights from key community and policy leaders, the study highlights structural barriers—including complex funding processes and jurisdictional disputes—that limit effective care.

The findings advocate for a unified PHC approach, proposing the establishment of an Indigenous Primary Health Care Board to drive system-wide reforms that prioritize cultural safety, self-determination, and cross-sector collaboration.

wHAT WE HEARD REPORT

Building the Infrastructure for Indigenous Primary Health Care: A Cross-Provincial Policy Study in Alberta and Ontario

On September 5, 2024, a three‐hour virtual dialogue concluded a cross‐provincial study in Alberta and Ontario on Indigenous primary health care. The study examined how payment and renumeration models shape Primary Health Care (PHC) infrastructure, the factors influencing provincial funding for Indigenous-focused PHC, and challenges across urban, on-reserve, and northern settings, while spotlighting innovative Indigenous PHC models.

Participants received a policy brief featuring a conceptual Indigenous PHC model. Twenty-one stakeholders—including health system administrators, primary care physicians, researchers, and policy experts (with eight previously interviewed)—provided insights that informed macro-level policy recommendations for transforming funding structures.

To explore the CARE Lab’s work and access additional briefs and reports, visit their website here.